Enter His gates
Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are His—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 is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations. Psalm 100
Reflect
“I am with you in everything, but you aren’t always with Me,” Jesus said to me as I waited for Him to lead me into a posture of prayer. Rather than withdraw into guilt and shame, I felt His invitation to lean in and wonder—I was reminded of Psalm 16:11:
You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Rather than remaining fixed on Jesus, my attention is more frequently given to fears and insecurities, and so my soul’s reflexes are tuned to the looming imperfect rather than the ever-present and faithful Perfect One. The fullness of joy He promises isn’t out of reach but merely out of my line of sight.
In other words, even though He is with me, I’m not always with Him. My Lord Jesus, lovingly guide me into the beauty of Your presence!
Enter His gates with thanksgiving…
When our world feels like it’s on fire, we can struggle to find a truthful expression of gratitude. That’s okay. He is longing to be found in pain as well as joy—and He is faithful to be present in both.
We make our hearts ready for You, Jesus.
As we breathe in Psalm 100, may we breathe out thanks as we become aware of His nearness.
Breathe In
Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth.
Breathe Out
Jesus, You are victorious over my anxieties.
Breathe In
Serve the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.
Breathe Out
My loneliness bows to the might of Your love.
Breathe In
Acknowledge that the LORD is God. He made us, and we are His—His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Breathe Out
I trust You, my Maker, and give You the pain in my body.
Breathe In
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Breathe Out
I was created to know and belong to You. I pour out before You gifts of wonder and affection.
Breathe In
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
Breathe Out
My soul overflows with thankfulness to You, Jesus.
Breathe In
For the LORD is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.
Breathe Out
Your love, Lord, is mending every wound in my family. You are making all things new.
Amen.