Doors and Gateways

A Wayside Chapel, Malta 

by Paul Collings

Psalm 100:4

Enter His gates with thanksgiving

And His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, bless His name.

Because God created us and shepherds us (Psalm 100:3), we ought to respond to Him with thankfulness and praise (Psalm 100:1). 

Believers can be thankful that the Lord never changes. He is always loving, patient, kind, merciful, and benevolent. He is as dependable today as He was when He rescued the Hebrews from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Furthermore, the Lord pours out His blessings to us every day. James 1:17 points out that every good and perfect gift comes from Him. He orchestrates everything in our lives for our good and His glory. 

We can face even difficult circumstances with thanksgiving on our lips. First Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to "give thanks in all circumstances." Psalm 84:11 promises: "No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly." A thankful heart expresses itself in praise. Psalm 100:4 joins thanksgiving and praise together. Instead of complaining, harbouring ingratitude, and indulging in self-pity, we should count our blessings and praise the Lord for who He is and for His numerous gifts.

William Law suggest that, “To be always in a thankful state of heart before God is not to be considered a high plane of spirituality but rather the normal attitude of one who believes that "all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose."

Praise God, O my soul!

We stand in awe at Your greatness, O God.

You are indeed great,

robed in honour and majesty.

For covering, you choose light—

     Your clothes, sunset and moonrise.

For a tent, You stretch out the heavens;

for Your roof, You pitch the sky.

You make Your messengers like the winds;

     the breeze whispers Your words.

You placed the earth on its foundations—

     it will never shaken.

How great are Your works, O God!

We stand in awe at all that You have done. Amen