Joy & Thankfulness Go Hand in Hand...
We enter His gates with THANKSGIVING & His courts with PRAISE (1)...and in His presence is fullness of JOY! (2)
Here is some great listening music as you read and contemplate...."Here In His Presence" New Life Worship
Thanksgiving is the key that lets us into His gates. As we give thanks, it puts God on His throne and says we trust Him. I love the verse, "I will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me because he trusts me." (3) I believe God tells us to give thanks for us...not for Him. As we make the mental assent to give thanks, even when we don't understand, the posture of our hearts begins to soften and relax and rest in Him, this brings us into His gates. Thanksgiving stirs us to praise because our eyes are taken off ourselves and our circumstances and we begin to see Jesus. As we look at him, the author and finisher of our faith (4) we are changed. It is a beautiful thing. The expression of praise that rises from our hearts....and yes, at times it is at a great cost (4) to ourselves and our desires but this act of praise, this sacrifice ushers us right into His throne room (5). And there, in His presence is Fullness of JOY which births within us the strength and grace that we need to walk out this journey here on earth.
1. Psalm 100:4-5
2. Psalm 16:11
3. Isaiah 26:3-4
4. Hebrews 13:15
5. Hebrews 4:16
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