Thanksgiving: The Atmosphere of Heaven

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name" (Psalm 100:4)

Thanksgiving is so much more than a holiday, beloved! It is personally my favorite time of year, yet inherent in the celebration itself is something timeless. Thanksgiving should be for each one of us a way of life. And no more clearly can this truth be seen than in the words of the psalmist as he described how the people of Israel were to approach God in worship.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving" - The gates of the temple were those access points into the place where was represented for the people the presence of Jehovah. The psalmist here pointed out to all potential worshipers that worship began with a thankful heart even before the gate was reached. How often today do we as worshipers drive into the church parking lot excited about what is about to take place, beloved? How often do we say to ourselves: "I can't wait to get to church today!"? The focus of the psalmist's words, then, seems to be more about the attitude of the heart leading up to worship than about the order of the worship service printed in the church bulletin.

"And His courts with praise" - The courts of the temple were the open places in which the people gathered for worship. In those courts the people of Israel praised and glorified God. Thus, they entered with an attitude of thanksgiving and that enabled them to worship with a heart full of praise.

"Bless His name" - Only through a heart of thankfulness could those worshipers truly "bless" the name of Jehovah, beloved. As they reflected upon His deliverance of them in the past, of His loving watch-care over them, could they praise Him and thank Him and trust Him in their present circumstances. How important, then, to worshipers of every generation is that attitude of thanksgiving with which we approach the presence of God!

How thankful is your heart today? What has He done for you that fills your heart with hope and peace and joy and love? Thanksgiving is more than a holiday, beloved! It is the very atmosphere of heaven and because it is, it is to be the pervasive atmosphere of our living as Christians. Have a glorious and Christ-honoring Thanksgiving season!

Ron