God invites us, in Psalm 100:4, to...
"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise"
and sometimes this comes easy when things are good... but sometimes it's more of a decision... a choice we make... to look up into the face of God rather than focused on the things of this earth.
As I awoke this morning... the verse that popped into my mind was "this is the day the Lord has made... I will rejoice and be glad in it!" My life is good at the moment... not without challenges... but good... rejoicing will be easy I thought. And yet this Psalm doesn't tell us to rejoice because life is good but because God is good and He is the one who made the day! He created this day and then gave it to us as a gift. How my day will unfold is known only to God. But I'm encouraged to rejoice and give thanks to the One who holds my future... unfolding it before me one step at a time. I want to live with my focus on God's goodness which is always good... rather than the goodness of life which fluctuates with every turn of circumstances.
I know life's circumstances can be difficult... even painful at times... but aren't we glad that we belong to a God who can lift us up above our circumstances and show us a whole new and heavenly view? I know I am. Today... I'm thankful for this day... and the God who made it!
Heavenly Father,
As I enter Your gates today... and come into Your courts in prayer... I choose to come with a heart of thanksgiving and praise.. thanking You for the precious gift of this day. Go before me Lord and prepare my way so that I can follow You step by step. Lift my eyes up from my circumstances... good or bad... so I can see You... and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus... the Author and Finisher of my faith. For your glory... Amen.
As I awoke this morning... the verse that popped into my mind was "this is the day the Lord has made... I will rejoice and be glad in it!" My life is good at the moment... not without challenges... but good... rejoicing will be easy I thought. And yet this Psalm doesn't tell us to rejoice because life is good but because God is good and He is the one who made the day! He created this day and then gave it to us as a gift. How my day will unfold is known only to God. But I'm encouraged to rejoice and give thanks to the One who holds my future... unfolding it before me one step at a time. I want to live with my focus on God's goodness which is always good... rather than the goodness of life which fluctuates with every turn of circumstances.
I know life's circumstances can be difficult... even painful at times... but aren't we glad that we belong to a God who can lift us up above our circumstances and show us a whole new and heavenly view? I know I am. Today... I'm thankful for this day... and the God who made it!
Heavenly Father,
As I enter Your gates today... and come into Your courts in prayer... I choose to come with a heart of thanksgiving and praise.. thanking You for the precious gift of this day. Go before me Lord and prepare my way so that I can follow You step by step. Lift my eyes up from my circumstances... good or bad... so I can see You... and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus... the Author and Finisher of my faith. For your glory... Amen.
