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Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.

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.

I confess that my prayers are too often heavy on petition and weak on praise. Today’s passage reminds us to enter His presence with thanksgiving and explains why God alone is worthy of our praise. Let’s break it down.

Shout for joy to the Lord. Heartfelt thanksgiving involves a gratitude that cannot be held back or held in. We shout for joy when our favorite team wins, so how much more should we loudly express the emotion that comes with experiencing the living God at work in our lives?

Worship the Lord with gladness. Worship is not comprised of singing a few songs at a church service. Demonstrating that God is worthy of my adoration is something I must do all day every day. 

Come before Him with joyful songs. My dad used to say that he “couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket.” I’m in the same boat. But God is not concerned about the tune of my song; He’s focused on the tune of my heart. God made us to sing joyful songs from the depths of our beings.

Know that the Lord is God. We belong to the One and Only Maker of heaven and earth who loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for our sins. Because of Jesus “we are his people”! That truth alone deserves a shout for joy, joyous worship, and the singing of joyful songs!

Father, forgive me for being lite on thanksgiving. I am truly sorry. Beginning today, help me to be a more consistent and emotional giver of thanks. In Christ’s name. Amen.