Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100, KJV
It is Thanksgiving week
in America. However, many may be struggling to be thankful in this season. Many
are struggling with the loss of loved ones, employment and “Covid fatigue.”
Frontline workers are exhausted, struggling as they work in over crowded hospital
wards, intubated patients, grieving families and limited PPE. Our Nation is
deeply divided over a plethora of issues. It’s a tough time! How do we “enter His
gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise?”
Let’s consider the
following…
We serve a God that loves
and cares about us. The psalmist said,
“We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and
into His courts with praise. Be thankful
unto Him and bless His name. For the
Lord is good, his mercy is ever lasting and His truth endureth to all generations.
We can thank God even before we see the answer, because we have the confidence that He is the answer. We have the confidence that God can and will take care of His own. We can thank and praise God with confidence because when we trust God, we know that no matter what comes, God is going to carry us through. Yes, we face disappointments. Yes, we face trials and tribulations. Yes, we have struggles and pain. But God carries us through them all.
The child of God will
face trials and struggles, but the child of God knows that God is right there
by his or her side, leading, guiding, comforting, encouraging, loving,
supporting, providing, making a way. He
promised never to leave us or forsake us.
He promised to give us springs in the desert. He promised to make the crooked places
straight and the rough places smooth in our lives. He promised that no weapon formed against us
would prosper. He promised that when the
enemy comes in like a flood, His Spirit would raise up a standard against him.
God said,
I am the Lord that healeth thee. Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine. 2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:1-2 (ASV)
In other words, child of
God, there’s nothing that you will face in this life that God cannot see you
through. You may feel as though you
can’t make it, you can’t take it, but stand upon God’s Word and declare, “I can
do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” Sometimes God changes our situation and
circumstances and sometimes God changes us.
Sometimes God moves mountains and sometimes God moves us. Sometimes God heals our bodies, and sometimes
He simply heals our minds and spirits.
God’s Word in Philippians
4 encourages us not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, we should let our requests be made known unto
God. The promise is that the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will
keep our hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.
Today, I encourage you to
choose thanksgiving and praise. Even in the midst of your struggle and trial, choose
confidently to bless and praise the Lord. Meditate upon all that you do have.
Honor the Lord for all that He has already carried you through. Thank Him for your
life. Praise Him for salvation. Trust Him for your future. Be confident, not in
yourself, but in His faithfulness. God will carry you through!
This Thanksgiving and
always,
May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Faith, Hope and
Perseverance,
Pastor Chris
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