Enter His courts with praise

Psa_100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

 I know life has its ups and downs.  There are times when the problems seem to mount up.  Yet, our God is good.  I would encourage you on this the Lord’s Day to set aside your worries and trials for a while and let your mind be filled with the goodness of God.  Let’s come into His presence and into His house to worship Him.  Remind yourself of all of God’s blessings and let thankfulness well up in your heart.  Give voice to your thankfulness and let His praise be known.  Prepare your heart and mind for His presence, worship Him and praise Him.

God reigns

Psa_93:1  The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.

 We serve a mighty God.  We need reminded that our God is all powerful; there is nothing beyond His ability.  He rules over all the world.  God created the world, established it, and continues to be active in His creation to accomplish His purposes.  When the troubles of life seem overwhelming, we need reminded that we have a God who is in control and sufficient for everything that we may face.  Trust Him.

God is faithful

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

 God is faithful.  God can be depended on.  God will prove Himself and His promises true to those who trust in Him.  Life can bring many surprises and disappointments.  We can be tempted to lose our faith and hope in God.  But we are challenged to not waver in our Christian profession, to not waver in our hope, confidence, and trust in God.  God is faithful.  He will do what He has promised to do.  He will do those things that are in accordance to His character, those things that show His holiness, fairness, love and mercy.  Hold steady.  Trust Him. He is faithful. 

God knows the way

Psa 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

 We don’t often know what life holds for us, where the path we are traveling will take us.  But there is one who knows the future, not just the world’s future but our future. This passage tells us to commit our path of life, our future, to the Lord.  We are instructed to commit our way to Him, to place it in His hands, and to trust Him.  If we do, He will bring it to pass; He will work out our future according to His will and wisdom.  Worried about the future?  Place your future in His hands and trust Him to work.    

Cleansed in body and spirit

(2 Cor 7:1 KJV)  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 We are to be cleansed both inside and out, in our spirit as well as our body. It’s not good enough to just keep a list of do’s and don’ts; holiness involves an inward cleansing first.  Holiness is love lived out; it is love in action.  It is the motives and intentions demanded by love - love for God and love for others. We are to be cleansed in our attitudes, how think about life, how we think about God, how we think about others.  We cannot be pleasing to God without having both our body and spirit cleansed.  Give attention to your life, but also stay pure in your intentions, values and attitudes.

Give thanks always

Eph_5:20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 This passage reminds us that we are to give thanks unto God for everything.  Every good thing in life that we enjoy comes from the love, goodness and mercy of our God.  Whether it be health, or finances, or enjoyments of life, or relationships, or things spiritual….EVERYTHING that we enjoy comes from our heavenly Father.  Our thanks should be directed to God, through our mediator and Savior Jesus Christ.  We are not worthy of any of the good things we enjoy from God….it is only by His great mercy and Jesus’ sacrifice that we are able to enjoy these things.  Direct your thanks to God.  Direct your thanks in Jesus name, for His great gift of salvation.  One of the keys to a truly thankful life is to remember how unworthy we are of all these things, most of all, unworthy of His great love and mercy.  Give thanks to God for all things.     

Our Deliverer

 Psa 40:17  But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

 What a wonderful truth!  The Lord thinks on us, He considers us, knows our condition.  Even though we are poor and needy, He thinks on us.  His thoughts toward us are to help and deliver.  The Lord takes note of us with compassion to help and deliver us.  We know our God is faithful, yet our plea is that He deliver us speedily.  Trust Him.  Call out to Him.  He is our help.    

Safe

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fear is one of Satan’s most common weapons.  He will use the fear of all sorts of impending evil to try to cause us to lose faith and hope.  This passage reminds us that all these dangers cannot separate us from God’s love.  In fact, we are more than conquerors, more than just survivors.  We can be thoroughly victorious through Jesus Christ, the One who loves us.  There is nothing in this life, the spiritual world and even death itself that can separate us from the love of God.  I know at times the future looks fearful.  Let’s remind ourselves of the One who loves us, the One who protects us, the One who will see us safely home. We are safe in the face of danger.  We will come through with overwhelming victory, through the love and power of Jesus Christ. 

Oh give thanks

Psa 136:1  O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:2  O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psa 136:3  O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.

 Later this month we will celebrate a national holiday of Thanksgiving.  Usually the day is so busy with food, family and travel that we don’t have much time to really be thankful.  So, let’s begin now and make this a month of thanksgiving.  Our God is worthy of praise and deserves our most heartfelt thanks for who He is and what He has done.  He is good, completely good, all the time, in every situation.  He is Lord of lords, all powerful, the Creator of all things.  And above all, He has shown us His great mercy in salvation.  Begin today to tune your heart to praise and thankfulness.  Make thankfulness part of your daily communion with God.  He is worthy. 

Don't worry

(Phil 4:6 KJV)  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 This is admonition we all need from time to time:  Be careful for nothing, don’t worry about anything.  We are all prone to worry.  Many of our greatest battles and greatest fears have to do with the future, not the present.  Sometimes our worry shows a lack of trust in God - sometimes it shows our determination to have our own way.  When we think of the future, too often we leave God out.   What are we to do instead of worrying?  By prayer and supplications let our request be known to God.  Let God know; take it to Him in prayer. Trust God to work it out as He sees best.  This is the way to peace.  Trust Him.     

Enjoy today

(Psa 118:24 KJV)  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 I am thankful for the beautiful fall colors on right now, even though it’s turned a little cooler.  The fall colors in spite of the weather brought this scripture to mind. This is the day the Lord has made. This day belongs to God.  Actually, every day belongs to God; He made it, He owns it, He rules it.  Because the day is the Lord’s and we are the Lord’s, we can rejoice in it and enjoy it.  We can enjoy God’s goodness and love today. Don’t let a fear of the future rob you of the joy of your salvation today.  Serve Him with gladness each day, every day.  I know the fall colors won’t last long, but God’s love will continue.  No matter what the day holds, we can rejoice in the God of our salvation.

God is still working

(Psa 138:8 KJV)  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

 God will bring His purposes to completion, to perfection, in the lives of His children.  He will complete what he has begun.  He will not begin to intervene in my behalf, and then abandon me.  He will not promise, and then fail to fulfill his promise.  He will not encourage me, and then cast me off.  God will bring His purposes to past in our lives because His mercy, His love, has no end, it endures forever. He will not forsake His own. Trust Him to lead on.

Make a joyful noise

Psa 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Psa 100:2  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

 Our God is worthy of praise.  His presence brings joy and happiness.  This passage admonishes us to serve Him with gladness; to allow our life in service to Him be lived in appreciation and happiness.  We are to come into His presence with gladness and singing.  We should be thrilled with the opportunity to come into His presence, to enjoy time with Him.  Singing is a natural response to excitement, joy and satisfaction.  Let’s allow our joy and satisfaction be known by our enthusiastic singing and praise.  Your singing unto the Lord will thrill both your soul and lift the spirits of those around you.  Purpose to express your joy to the Lord in singing in the weekly worship services.  

Our refuge

 Psa 9:9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psa 9:10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

 Our God is a refuge, a safe retreat, a place of security and rest.  He is a refuge for the oppressed, those who are overburdened, overpowered, beat down, depressed.  Those who know Him will put their trust in Him. Those who know the Lord will trust Him because He is faithful; He has never forsaken one of His own.  He will never forsake His trusting child.  He is our refuge.  Run to Him, confide in Him, find peace and rest in His care. He is our hiding place, our refuge, our safe retreat.  Trust Him.  

A good name

Pro 22:1  A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

This Proverb tells us there are two things more to be desired than wealth: a good name and favor. A good name is not just a good reputation, but a good moral character.  A good name means whenever your name comes up, you are well spoken of because you possess good character.  We should employ more care in maintaining a good name than in gaining financially.  “Loving favor” means being highly valued or cherished.  It expresses the affection and respect people have for one with a good name or good character. What could be better than having the affection and respect of those who know you best?  Let’s live our lives carefully, thoughtfully, so that we make choices that will maintain our good name and not be lured to risk it to gain financially.

I KNOW whom I have believed

(2 Tim 1:12 KJV)  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

I know whom I have believed.  We aren’t just convinced of some facts; we don’t just put our trust in some words, some doctrine.  We KNOW WHO we have believed; We KNOW Him. We have a relationship with Him.  He loves us, He gave His life to redeem us, we love Him.  He lives with us, we live with Him.  We have been persuaded, convinced.  We are not doubting. We are persuaded that He is able, that He has the power, the ability. He is able to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves. First, He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day.  We have committed the keeping of our soul “against that day” ,  the great judgment day.  It is God who keeps us.  Satan will try to get you to focus on yourself, your own weakness, and lose hope (especially during a time of struggling). But it is God that keeps us.  He works with us and in us, to lead us, to strengthen us, to correct us.  He saved us to keep us. This Christian life is a life lived with God, lived in His power and in His grace.  He is able to strengthen us and keep us from falling.  He is able to give us victory in times of temptation.  Is Satan attacking you with doubts?  Trust the keeping of your soul to our faithful heavenly Father.

Prayer of the afflicted

Psa 102:1  A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. Psa 102:2  Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.

  Notice that this is a prayer of someone suffering, someone overwhelmed and burdened down.  The first step to receiving help is to cry out to God, to seek His help.  We have a heavenly Father who is God of all the universe.  He is real, He is a living God, the only God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  He is all knowing, all wise.  He is all powerful. And He is compassionate.  He hears the cry of despair.  Cry out to the One who can help.

No unwholesome talk

(Eph 4:29 KJV)  Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

We need to judge how we talk.  We are not to let any evil talk, unwholesome talk come out of our mouth.  Evil talk, corrupt communication, is that which tears down, doesn’t benefit, doesn’t build up.  Rather, let our words be good, that which builds up, that which brings grace, or benefit to the hearers.  We as believers are called to a new standard of life, evidence of a real change.  This is a sin too often taken too lightly.  We are challenged by the Word of God to watch how we talk. 

He will not fail

(1 Ki 17:15 KJV)  And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.  (1 Ki 17:16 KJV)  And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

 You know the story of Elijah and this widow.  When God sent Elijah to her, she only had enough oil and meal for one last small meal.  God, through Elijah, promised that if she made the meal for Elijah first, the oil and meal would not run out.  She did just that and God did what He said He would do.  He provided for them throughout the remainder of the drought. Now, I want you to notice how God supplied:  God supplied what they needed for that day.  The barrel was never filled, the cruse of oil never full.  We are not promised that God will give us today what we need tomorrow.  We are not always shown the provision for tomorrow, only promised that God will provide. God doesn’t show us the path all the way to the end, He doesn’t lay the whole plan out before we begin. We begin by faith, and we live day by day by that same faith.  God simply shows us the next step, and provides for that days needs.  We are not told that the widow ever received more than she had to begin with.  God miraculously made what she had to be sufficient to fulfill His call.  Trust Him. He will not fail.  The meal will not waste and the oil will not fail.

Others

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We are not to only be concerned with our needs and interests, but also the needs and interests of others.  Jesus was God in human flesh.  When He became a human, He did not cease to be God. Yet He never took advantage of His position for anything selfish.  He did not enter human history as God with all its advantages, but rather as a self giving servant.  This is the very heart of the gospel. God’s love was expressed in Jesus’ self sacrifice on the cruel and humiliating cross. Jesus accepted the cruel and humiliating death on the cross for the sake of those whom He loved.  Let this mind be in you and me.  Let us develop this selfless attitude.  This attitude is one of the witnesses to the power of this great salvation to change people.