November 24, 2022

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE REFERENCE:

“Shout for joy. Worship with gladness. Come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. Enter His gates with thanksgiving. Enter His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him. Praise His name. The Lord is good. His love endures forever. His faithfulness continues to all generations.” (Psalm 100)

TODAY’S REFLECTION:

As we enter through the gates, portals, doors and invitations of this Thanksgiving Day, let our lives model what is intended to be true in our hearts, minds and spirits blessed by God. The psalmist David led God’s people in seasons of such thanksgiving as the King of Israel. In so doing, David established the paradigm of authentic living as thanks giving. It was a lesson he learned as a boy in Bethlehem where he tended his father’s sheep. It was a lesson he taught to Saul and the army of Israel in the defeat of Goliath, the blasphemer of God. It was a lesson he revisited when the justice of God was demonstrated to him in the loss of his son. It was a lesson he clung to when his own son turned against him and sought the end of his life. We dare not think that our thanksgiving is limited to the “good” things we have in our lives. We must include the “good” things which God has put in our lives which increase our awareness of His desire for us as His people. Those “good” things are not always positive, profitable and promotional as the world would define them. But, as they work together for good for those who call upon the name of the Lord as their God they become the blessing of life which is eternal and without end. Only those things committed to the honoring of God and His great love for us are eternal. As they become more of our focus and the pattern of our living it will be more possible to see the increase in our thanks giving. Thanks be given first to God today and every day. And let the demonstration of our leadership in this right worship inspire others to follow and do the same for those who are given to them to be shepherded and brought in through the gates so that God will be praised, remembered and desired all the days of our lives.

TODAY’S PRAYER:

To God be the glory, great things He has done. So loved He the world that He gave us all His Son. His Son yielded allegiance gladhearted and free and opened the life gate that all may go in. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all who dwell below. Praise Him above all heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.