Enter With Thanks - Psalms 99-101

 Psalms 100:4 (ESV)

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

We probably walk through hundreds of doors every week.  I doubt if there has ever been a study of how many doors we walk through.  Surely there has not been a study of how many times we walk through a door with “thanksgiving.”   We probably do, leaving a store, if it is the right kind of store.  If we had to get our car repaired and we walked out of the auto repair dealer, it is doubtful we walked out with thanksgiving.   Walking into a hospital is probably not a walk of thanksgiving.  But, perhaps, coming is, can be, hopeful to be.   Walking into an ice cream parlor is a great do to walk into with thanksgiving.  Especially if you money in your pocket and you are not on a diet.   Walking out is a thanksgiving walk, allow can be hard to squeeze through the door.  

What the writer of this song is talking about in the above passage is about having an intentionality about lives when it comes to our walking into the presence of God.  HIs “gates” might conjure up the gates of Jerusalem.  That would fit this section, especially if you read the proceeding psalm.   But, verse two of this song states:

Psalms 100:2 (ESV)

Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Of all the “doors” we walk through, the post important door is the door of HIs presence.  That is were we are to walk each day and never walk away from.   We are to approach Him with a heart of thanksgiving.  Yes, there are days this might hard and seemingly impossible.  But, in truth, staring your day, ending your day and making all the time in between a walk of thanksgiving is a powerful way to live your life.   We are coming before Him and walking into the arena of His glory.  What is not to be thankful for in regard to that walk.    Each time you open a door to your home to leave or return think thanksgiving to God.  Each time you open the door to your car to get in and get out, think thanksgiving to God.  Each time you open a door to your work, think thanksgiving.  Each time you open the door of business to go in or out, think about a thanksgiving walk.   We are to thank God that we are in His presence no matter whether we are on the inside of the door or the outside of a door.  Be thankful.