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Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
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.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
(Psalm 100:1-5 NIV)
The month of November is a time when we traditionally turn our focus and hearts toward being grateful and sharing we what are thankful for.
Thanksgiving is a lifestyle we are called to live. In fact, every time we come to the Lord, we are told to:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.”
Can I be real with you for a minute?
Sometimes, thanksgiving and praise is the farthest from our lips and our mind when we want to come before the Lord.
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Sometimes, we come in worshipping and praising.
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Sometimes, we come in crying and complaining.
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Sometimes, we come running to the Lord for comfort, answers, protection, or in dire need.
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Sometimes, we also come in with thanksgiving and praise, but not all the time.
I wonder how things would change, in our circumstances, our heart, and our attitude if every time we approached God’s gates and His court, we did so first with thanksgiving and praise?
Many years ago, I joined the staff of a church and worked in the Worship Arts Department. The staff prayed over me, when I first started and one of the things the senior pastor said has stuck with me through the years. It was:
“Nothing advances in the Kingdom of God without praise and worship.”
What if thanksgiving and praise not only pave the way for us to enter into the gates and courts of God, but what if it paves the way for us advancing and releasing the very blessings of God in our lives?
What if thanksgiving and praise removes the obstacles we face and allows the hand of God to move on our behalf?
It’s easy to praise and give thanksgiving to Him when things are going well, but not so much when they aren’t.
Today, no matter what obstacle is in your way… No matter what situation you face seems overwhelming… No matter what is in front of you, stand. Stand and face it head on with praise and thanksgiving to God on your lips.
Tweet ThisThank Him for the amazing testimony you will have on the other side. Thank God for His faithfulness in always making a way when there doesn’t seem to be a way. Choose to praise your way into His gates and courts and watch what amazing things advance in your life.
Remember:
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5).
What you are grateful/thankful for today?
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
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Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
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Debbie, our lives should be daily instruments of praise and worship. Not just saved for corporate worship. Amen?
Yes, amen to that, Susan!
Susan, YES – Right!
Thanks for this word today, Debbie. I’ve had some disappointments this week, and I just need to break through with thanksgiving and praise.
You are most welcome, Kelly! I am sorry to hear you have been experiencing disappointments, I am praying for you as you praise your way to breakthrough!
Yes! I want my life to be characterized by gratitude — not like a magic formula for making my life a certain way, but as a right response to the lavish grace and provision of God.
Thanks, Debbie, for your encouraging words today.
Michele you are most welcome for today’s post 🙂 and I agree with you, Blessings
Debbie, I think there is truth in your statement, “What if thanksgiving and praise removes the obstacles we face and allows the hand of God to move on our behalf?”
I know that for myself, when I give my praise and thanksgiving to Him, even when things are hard, (ESPECIALLY when things are hard), it begins to break the hardness in me! My attitude softens, and I begin to truly see why He is still worthy of my praise. He is always worthy of our praise, and we have MUCH to be thankful for. But sometimes life’s obstacles block our view from seeing.
Thank you for this word today! And thank you for the link up. 😉
Rachel, you are most welcome for the words today and for the linkup – thanks for being here today and joining in and for sharing your thoughts. You are so right, sometimes life’s obstacles block our view from seeing, BUT God is always worthy of our praise. 🙂
Debbie, such an encouraging post. I want my life to be marked by gratitude not for what God can do or give to me but solely for the blessing of His Presence with me. I am never alone in this life. Grateful to have stopped here this afternoon!
Thank you, Joanne! I am so glad you stopped by here this afternoon too 🙂
Thank you for inviting me to join your linkup. What a great community here, and I really appreciate your insights. Blessings!
Thank you and Welcome Stacy, I am so glad to have you join us this week for the linkup and I pray we will be seeing you again and again each week! Blessings to you !
Thank you for hosting this inspirational party! Have a blessed week!
thank you Marilyn! and you have a blessed week/weekend as well.
Thank you for hosting the party each week! Blessings
you are welcome Jas.
Always Thankful that I am on this Earth. Very nice post.
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful day.
thanks Patrick. You have an amazing weekend!
Beautiful! I’m thankful that He invites us in to worship… to relationship! Giving Thanks I believe is the key that unlocks many gates in the Kingdom! So good!
Thank you Karilee! I believe you are right – thanksgiving does open many gates in the Kingdom – many more than we think. 🙂
Funny, I was formulating a Thanksgiving post in my head and the verse you shared above was the one the Lord brought to my mind.
I appreciate your honesty that indeed we don’t always feel like giving thanks. But the statement you shared from that Pastor really shed light on those feelings and the importance of Praising and Worshipping.
Thanks for sharing.
Karen, did you write the post on the same verse? I will have to pop on over to your place to see. Yes, I agree, Pastor Burt’s words have stuck with me through the years and always seem to pop out of my mouth when I need to hear them the most and be reminded. Blessings to you and thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for these wonderful reflections on thanksgiving and praise — very encouraging post!
Thank you Joy! I am so glad that you were able to stop by today and that you were encouraged.
Thank you for this reminder! Praise evicts the enemy!
Elizabeth – you are most welcome and YES! Praise does indeed evict the enemy! Praise God it does indeed.