May 13, 2020
The Beauty of His Presence
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)
Friend to Friend
Sometimes I don’t feel like going to church. Yeah, I know. I’m probably not supposed to admit that. But it’s true. Even still, it’s amazing how my heart shifts once I’ve positioned myself in His presence. It happens when I read the Bible and get with Jesus on my own as well.
I could go to God mad at my man. (Happens.) I could go to God frustrated with my kids. (Hap- pens.) I could go to God wounded by others. (Happens.) Yet, when my gaze turns from my frazzled to my Freedom... from my distance to my Deliverer ... from my mountain to my Mountain Maker... from my anger to my Answer, everything changes.
Every. Time.
Grief yields to gratitude. Distraction yields to direction. Grumbling yields to grace. Swirling becomes savoring. Failures become forgiven. Broken becomes beautiful.
In the presence of the One who opens holy arms with eternal, enduring love and welcomes wounded warriors to His soul-changing rest, I’m home. I’m helped. I’m healed.
Because God is good, loving and faithful... all the time. (Psalm 100:5)
Psalm 100 calls us to worship God in the sacred sanctuary of the throne room. To worship unbridled. With enthusiasm. With thanksgiving. With joy. With shouts!
In just five short verses, the psalmist invites us to move from where we are to where He is.
In just five short verses we’re invited to remember and celebrate who and Whose we are.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
(Psalm 100)
We are to be people who are all about the praises of the Lord because we are His chosen children, radically redeemed, set apart in the righteousness of Christ by the Master of all Mercy. (Somebody shout!)
We are to be people of gratitude because He is a God of goodness and unsearchable greatness who loves lavish and whose compassion is complete. (Somebody shout!)
We are to be people of joy and gladness because though this world is full of troubles, ours is a powerful Provider who tells us to take heart because He has overcome the world. He has defeated death and will never leave or forsake us. (Somebody shout!)
Don't look now, but I think we just done-went to church. Pass the plate.
Let’s Pray
Gracious Father,
Thank You for this invitation to be transformed in Your presence; heart, mind and soul. I belong with You. I need You. I love You. I worship You.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What would that look like for you to move from where you are to where God is today? Is there pain, disappointment, resentment or unforgiveness in your heart that needs to be yielded to God?
More from the Girlfriends
If you want to read and study the Bible, but don’t know where to start, this is for you! Girlfriends in God cofounder Gwen Smith has created a FREE 5-Day Psalm Challenge that will guide you on a personal journey with the Lord as you read, record, reflect on and respond to His Word.
PS. Have you listened to the GRACEOLOGIE with Gwen Smith podcast yet? Hang out with Gwen and friends for fun, faith-focused, grace-filled conversations as you commute to work, go on walks, exercise, fold laundry, run errands or travel.
Originally published Wednesday, 13 May 2020.
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