Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name! – Psalm 100:4

Imagine you’ve recently invited me over for an evening of fellowship as well as sharing a delightful meal together. I arrive just at the split second of our agreed upon time and you graciously greet me at the door. Immediately upon entering, I begin to take over the entire conversation not allowing you to get a word in edgewise. I begin telling you about all my troubles and woes and how difficult my day has been and without hesitation begin inquiring of you for any help while continuing to pour out my pleas. While continuing with my pity party mentality and words, I quickly leave your presence and make my way to the banquet table you have taken so much time to prepare as you anxiously awaited my arrival. Once again, I completely take over the conversation while sharing this extravagant meal together with you asking once again for any help, words of comfort, someone else you may know that I could talk to while all along, you alone know and possess what I need that will see me through this current valley in my life. If only…yes if only I would be quiet while in your presence and allow you to speak words of healing and comfort to me.

If only…

My friend, I must confess that I’ve been in this exact situation and from time to time even yet find myself there once again. Perhaps you have too? Whether we call it our prayer time, devotional time, quiet time, those times we come before the Lord, entering His presence while only dominating our entire time together. We enter His presence, and without offering up any words of thanksgiving and praise, giving Him glory and honor which is so due His name, we rush so often into the “Lord, here is what’s wrong in my world today and this is what I’m needing You to do for me” and “oh yeah, thanks Lord, I’m so glad we had this time of fellowship together…see ya tomorrow…Amen”.

Dear friends, we’ve been invited by the King of Kings, Lord of Lords and Creator of the entire universe to come, dine, and have sweet fellowship in His presence. There is something awesome that happens when we enter His presence and offer up thanksgiving and praise. The apostle Paul wrote in I Thessalonians 5:18 to Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Also in Philippians 4:6 he wrote Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but I truly believe my friend that the key to living a life of peace and contentment each and every day is to be truly be thankful and grateful for all God has done, what He’s doing and what He’s about to do in our lives. Once again, the key is living in the environment of contentment.

As we enter this week of Thanksgiving, I hope each of you takes time out and just enter into God’s presence just to offer Him a time of “Thanksgiving and Praise”. Not to petition Him for anything, but just to get in His presence and abide there for awhile. I promise, you’ll never be the same my friend.

I wish you and your families a safe and Happy Thanksgiving.

Remain Blessed,