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 have always liked this Psalm, but late last year, I fell in love with it. For 100 Days I studied its words and journaled through it, letting the concept of thanks fill my heart and mind. What a transformational process it was! Now trying to do it again, I don't want to just rehash the same old thoughts I expressed last time. I want to find fresh meaning, fresh revelation and inspiration, fresh application in this timeless passage from God's eternal Word.
This is a Psalm of thanksgiving. It says so right in the title of the Psalm, at least in my Bible. And the overriding theme is the how and why of giving thanks. To this penman, thanksgiving was more than just a mumbled "thank you". It was an extravagant act of worship that involved body, soul and spirit. It wasn't just a prayer or simply a song; it was a melee of gratitude, an outpouring of appreciation directed heavenward in fervent and fanatical rejoicing of the heart. If you don't believe me, just look at that first suggestion: Make a joyful shout! In the old KJV, it's noise. Make a joyful noise to the LORD! In the words of an old campfire tradition, it was basically saying, "We're gonna raise a ruckus tonight!"
When we give thanks to the Lord, is that the kind of enthusiasm we employ? There is so much to be thankful for; not realizing that is one reason I want to do these 100 days again. I want to give thanks with all my heart and soul, because He is God, He is creator and sustainer, redeemer and friend, He is good and His mercy is forever. That's something to get excited about.
I'm thankful today for faith that sees the invisible, receives the incredible, and believes the impossible. That kind of faith comes only from the Lord.
I'm thankful today for hope that holds on and does not give up, because it will not be disappointed. That kind of hope comes only from the Lord.
I'm thankful today for love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things, for love that does not fail. That kind of love comes only from the Lord.
Father, thank you, and please increase my faith, strengthen my hope, and inspire my love today.
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