Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5, NASB)

Maybe as you’re reading this, the aroma of Turkey roasting in the oven already fills your home. For today, in America, it is Thanksgiving Day.

Today we celebrate everything we’re thankful for over what is arguably the greatest feast most of us will eat all year.

I love how Garfield the cat describes Thanksgiving, “Today is the day we celebrate food by eating as much of it as we can.”

Hahaaa! Don’t you love it?
All kidding aside, whether we live in America and are celebrating Thanksgiving Day today or not, may today be a day we are caught up in the pure, celestial joy of praise!

The Practice of Praise

When you and I make a conscious practice of gratitude, we’re setting ourselves up to dwell perpetually in God’s love.

And in this place is fullness of joy (1 John 1:1-5, John 1:4, Eph. 3:19).

Praise Recalls Love

See, when we take time to think about what we’re grateful for, we remember the goodness and kindness of God. We remember the exquisite love he has for us in Christ Jesus.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NASB)

Love Leads Us In

There is no greater—nor more important—practice in Christendom than remembering the perfect love of God for us.

As he gives us strength through his Spirit to know and believe his passionate perfect love for us, we enter into the presence of God. God is love. To live in his love is to live in his presence. (John 15:9, Eph. 3:14-21, 1 John 4:16, Psalm 27, 100)

Wild, no?

And from this home of all homes, comes sweet joy of all joys. Deepest praise of all praise.

Finally…

Today, as you celebrate God’s goodness and kindness in your life, may you remember the exquisite love from which his blessings flow.

And may you be filled with joy inexpressible and full of glory. (1 Pet. 1:8)

…whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (1 Peter 1:8, NKJV)

Happy Thanksgiving and so much love to you and yours!

KATIE MOON is a Biblical researcher, writer, teacher/speaker, and founder of a non-profit online ministry called In Black and Light.