Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name. for the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.
-Psalm 100:4,5
If we will consecrate heart and mind to the service of God, doing the work He has for us to do and walking in the footsteps of Jesus, our hearts will become sacred harps, every chord of which will send forth praise and thanksgiving to the Lamb sent by God to take away the sins of the world…. Christ would have our thoughts center upon Him…. Look away from self to Jesus Christ, the life of every blessing, every grace, the life of all that is precious and valuable to the children of God…. {OFC 55.3}
The Lord Jesus is our strength and happiness, the great storehouse from which, on every occasion, men may draw strength. As we study Him, talk of Him, become more and more able to behold Him—as we avail ourselves of His grace and receive the blessings He proffers us, we have something with which to help others. Filled with gratitude, we communicate to others the blessings that have been freely given us. Thus receiving and imparting, we grow in grace; and a rich current of praise and gratitude constantly flows from our lips; the sweet spirit of Jesus kindles thanksgiving in our hearts, and our souls are uplifted with a sense of security. The unfailing, inexhaustible righteousness of Christ becomes our righteousness by faith. {OFC 55.4}
Paul and Silas knew the secret of how to lift their hearts above their troubles and enter into God’s presence and power. Through praise and worship their hearts were raised into the joyous presence and peace of God, and provided God a channel for his power to operate in their circumstances.
The Bible says that God dwells in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “resides” in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence – Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! Praise and worship is the “gate-pass” which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory. The psalmist writes, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalms 100:4).
Heart Questions: Are you consecrating your heart and mind to the service of God with grateful heart? Are you walking in the footsteps of Jesus so that your heart will become a sacred harp with every chord sending forth praise and thanksgiving to God? Are you praising God so that He can resides in the atmosphere of the praises as He bring you into His presence and His power? Are you taking example of Paul and Silas in knowing the secret of how to lift your heart above your troubles and enter into God’s presence and power? Are you making the Lord Jesus your strength and happiness, the great storehouse from which, on every occasion, you may draw strength and happiness?
- Pray that you will find the joy of enter God’s presence with a thankful heart and as you enter His courts you will always in attitude of praise. Pray that your heart will become a sacred harp and every chord will send forth praise and thanksgiving to God.
- Pray that all our church members will have a heart that will become a sacred harp and every chord will sent forth praise and thanksgiving to God. Pray that they will always have an attitude of praising in entering the sanctuary of God and that they will serve Him with grateful hearts.
- Pray for provision for those who are losing jobs, getting laid off, or wondering where their next meal will come from if they can’t go to work. Pray that God would sustain and provide for their daily needs as He promises to do in Isa. 33:16 and Phil. 4:19. Pray for enabling power to be the shining witnesses He’s called us to be!
- Pray for physical healing and provision, especially for those still suffering from health or financial challenges
- Pray for Holy Spirit enabling for pastors worldwide as they continue to shepherd their members.