Psalm 100 Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 100
A Psalm of praise.
1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness:
come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Have you ever heard someone ask about the Bible verse, “enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise?”
Have you personally made any effort to envision the Bible verse, “enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise?”
What are the gates?
How can we enter with thanksgiving if life is full of trouble and despair?
Is there a process?
As Christians, we place our hope in God.
Yes, tough times will come.
When life is filled with turmoil and when life is filled with joy, enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise.
Where Does the Bible Say “Enter His Gate with Thanksgiving”?
The book of Psalms is where Scripture shares this important statement:
Psalm 100 Complete Jewish Bible
100 (0) A psalm of thanksgiving:
(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.
3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.
Psalm 100 is credited to King David, although some biblical scholars believe various people wrote the book of Psalms.
The words are directed to everyone in very generation in every community.
This psalm is sometimes called a guide or hymnal for worship and prayer.
Although only five verses, this powerful message reminds us to give thanks to God. Trials and troubled times will always come into our life, but we have the opportunity to continue praising God and giving thanksgiving to God always.
What Are God’s Gates?
Biblical scholars refer to God’s gates as when we come into the presence of God.
In other words, whenever we come and seek to enter His Tabernacle to worship God, we enter His presence.
When we pray to God, we enter into a personal relationship with the Father.
Whether we enter to offer sacrifices, give thanksgiving or cry out with sadness, the gates of His presence are open to His children.
Christians acknowledge there is one God, and we are His creations.
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 100:3 NIV).
How Do We “Enter His Gates”?
Set aside all notions you are in charge of anything in your life. (Psalm 100:3)
Be still … practice muchly the disciplines of “exalting stillness and silence.”
Psalm 46:10-11 Authorized (King James) Version
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth.
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Open yourself to the presence of God and pray.
Prayer opens the door to conversation and relationship with God.
Prayer is personal time shared with God.
When we pray, we know God hears.
Beginning prayer by focusing on God and not the self is the way to enter His gates. Enter with praise and thanksgiving.
Begin the prayer by thanking God for His steadfast love and forgiveness.
Acknowledge the need for forgiveness.
Repent of all sins.
Praise God for His forgiveness.
Give thanks to God.
Scripture tells of the narrow gate and the wide gate.
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV).
His gates are open, and yet some people refuse to enter.
Entering through the narrow gate will take dedication and the desire to have a personal relationship with God.
Live for God.
Share His love with others.
Share His message and help others know Him.
In the book of John chapter 14 verses 5-6, when Thomas told Jesus that the disciples didn’t know where Jesus was going and wondered how they could know the way. Jesus responded with an important statement verses 6-7.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him’” (John 14:6-7 NIV).
How Do We Offer God Thanksgiving Today?
Thanksgiving is not something we give only on a Thursday in November or other certain days of the year.
Thanksgiving to God is an act of worship we can do every moment.
Waking in the morning, giving thanks for a glorious day can allow the day to begin with the light of God’s presence.
Sharing conversations, saying prayers throughout the day can bring comfort and peace.
Preparing for rest in the evening and giving thanks in our nightly prayers can deepen our faith. Every single moment is an opportunity to give thanks to God.
We can offer God thanksgiving through our words, actions today and every day.
Show others His love by sharing His Word.
Perhaps there is an GOD opportunity to volunteer in church or community.
Exalt God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …
Show patience, humility, compassion, and kindness in every situation.
Whatever is happening in life, give thanks to God.
Know that in good times and bad times, God is always King, God never leaves nor forsakes. God sent His Son, He will lead, guide us through every moment.
What to Do When Giving Thanks is Difficult
Life is hard at times.
Perhaps you are journeying through a stressful and desperate time, and giving thanks tends to be difficult.
What if you are having a hard time giving thanks to God?
First, remember God knows the heart of His children.
God loves you and understands every emotion.
If giving thanks is hard, go to God in prayer.
Share concerns, worries, and fears.
Ask God to bring the peace and comfort only He can give.
In prayer, share with God any difficulties you may have with giving thanks.
Seek His leadership, His Direction His guidance for the situation. (Psalm 16:11)
Go to God with a servant’s heart.
Ask for His forgiveness. Rest in His promises. Release your difficulties to Him.
Just Come to the Gates and Worship, Worship, Repeat
“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.”
That’s the way I memorized Psalm 100:1 as a child (King James Version).
My young imagination pictured grand, far-off kingdoms set in golden, rolling landscapes, lifting their attention to the heavens, join in one huge happy shout.
I picture it a bit differently now—maybe because I know more about the world than I did then. I’m more aware that not all in our world is grand and golden. In fact, we all live in a world filled with wars, divisions, and inequities of all sorts.
Sometimes we’re severely tempted to believe that nothing could ever unite us.
But the psalmist believes unity is possible.
God loves every person in every land, and God’s desire for each one is to come to him with thanksgiving and praise.
The invitation, the welcome, the call to know God’s goodness goes out into all the world.
The psalmist calls every person in every time and place to offer thanksgiving, singing, grateful devotion to the God who made us and is faithful to all creation.
These few verses of Psalm 100 pushes us beyond all boundaries to embrace all peoples, and beyond every self-centered preoccupation to worship only God.
So give thanks to God today.
“For the Lord is good.”
His love forever extends to the ends of the universe and endures forever.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 19 Authorized (King James) Version
Psalm 19
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven,
and his circuit unto the ends of it:
and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul:
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned:
and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright,
and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart,
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
my strength, and my redeemer.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 