Thankful, Day One

A friend of mine suggested an exercise that I'm going to try: Read the 100th Psalm each day, following its outline, and journal 3 things I'm thankful for. So here we go with day one.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100, NKJV

I love the verbs that this Psalm gives us as instructions: make (shout). serve. come. know enter. be (thankful). bless. And each one of those verbs is directed toward God. And I love the attitudes that this Psalm suggests: joyful. gladness. singing. thanksgiving. praise. I'm a pretty positive person most of the time, but starting out the next 100 days with this Psalm in mind seems like it might have an even more positive effect on my lifestyle. I hope so.

Is there anything to shout joyfully about in my life right now?

Well, I'm alive. I was able to get up out of bed this morning. I was able to see the sunlight and smell the day. I was able to walk and get myself around. And I feel better today than I did yesterday (I have been sick for a week). I almost have my voice back so that I can shout and sing! I shout with joy because of the lifebreath that God allows to remain in my nostrils. And I shout with joy because of the new life that God gives me through Jesus Christ!

I'm forgiven. I know who I was before I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, before I first asked Him to forgive me of the sins I had committed. I was only six, but I knew then (and still know now) that I was a wretch in need of salvation. Jesus graciously imparted that salvation to me, and continues to offer his tender mercies to me, whether I succeed or I fail, whether I walk in victory or am sometimes overcome by my own sinful nature. Each morning, the forgiveness of the Lord is readily available to me, and when I ask for it, He is faithful and fair, and He always forgives. I shout with joy because of the forgiveness that is mine through Jesus Christ!

And I am blessed. This morning I have a roof over my head, food in my kitchen, a good bed to sleep in, more luxuries than I truly need, a car to drive and gas in the tank, money in the bank (but not for long), good neighbors, wonderful friends, a loving family. My life has been enriched in so many wonderful ways, and God continues to open doors and bring into my life what He wants me to have. I shout with joy because of everything I have received through Jesus Christ!