Beloved, how are you this morning? Are you feeling a weary? Perhaps a bit overwhelmed, laundry to wash, dishes in the sink, the kids are running through the house after you just asked them to not run, or are you lonely? the house is empty, no one to talk to but yourself. Perhaps you are doing okay with where you are but you are feeling some distance from God, your quiet time has not been happening. Perhaps you are feeling betrayed by God, or your body betrayed you by getting sick. Often I feel this betrayal from chronic vice-gripping migraines.
When I am feeling distance from God, I usually pray through Psalm 139: 23-24 in the NLT version it says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious Thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” A time of confession, and renewal occurs which leads to praising and thanking Jesus.
Psalm 100 is known as a Psalm of Thanksgiving.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are the his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
In John 10, Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are his sheep. In John 10:14 says, “I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me.’ Beloved, he knows who you are. The rest of the world may not know you, but God knows you.
In Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalm 100 is an invitation to praise God, he says when we worship and serve God we should do it with joy and gladness. He states, “Let God be served with gladness. By holy joy we do really serve God; it is an honour to him to rejoice in him; and we ought to serve him with holy joy. Gospel-worshippers should be joyful worshipers; if we serve God in uprightness, let us serve him with gladness. We must be willing and forward to it, glad when we are called to go up to the house of the Lord (Ps. 122:1 )”
In this Psalm we see many of God’s attributes, in the phrase: acknowledge that the Lord is God. Matthew Henry says that he is a being infinitely perfect, self-existent, and self-sufficient, and the fountain of all being; he is God, and not a man as we are. He is an eternal Spirit, incomprehensible and independent, the first cause and last end. The next phrase: He made us, and we are his this attribute God is the creator. He is the I AM. Another phrase: we are his people, the sheep of his pasture, this attribute God is sovereign ruler and bountiful benefactor. Lastly, the verses four and five share the attributes God is good, love, merciful, faithful and truth.
Beloved, this is a psalm to memorize, there are several praise songs from this Psalm to help you memorize this Psalm. If your day is not going well, praise and thank God. If you day is going well, praise and thank God. If you are sick, God is healing you. If you are alone, God knows. Remember God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Christian Living
…pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18“The way to pray without ceasing is to not say amen” Tracie Miles.
