Megan Evans, Women’s Ministry Director, LHBC
Psalm 100 (ESV)
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.
Every week I make a list. I write down all the things I am out of, all the things I will need this week, everything my family has told me they need. And off I go…
For many of us, this scenario describes a weekly trip to the grocery store. But if we are honest, does it also describe our time with God occasionally? That’s a raw thought, but one we’ve likely all experienced before. Jesus I want to bring you more than my list, teach me joyful worship.
How do we keep routine from robbing our joy? How do we fight a check-list mentality and worship with gladness instead? It begins with our heart—the very part of us that God wants most. Psalm 100 is only five verses long but it invites us into a moment of joyful worship. This psalm of thanksgiving is a reset button for every heart today.
Joyful worship of the Lord begins as we come before him (verse 2). In the midst of all of our mess and distraction the first step is simply just to go. The Lord is God of all the universe and yet we are also humbly welcome at our King’s feet. He doesn’t want us to wait until we’ve got it all together, that day will never come. Only Jesus can sanctify us. We are all the broken and prodigal, humble and small, yet even our whispers shout his praise. Today. This moment in the middle of all the daily stuff of life. Come and worship.
As we praise the Lord, our perspective shifts from self to God’s great character and promises. We are reminded of our humanity and his great love. It is he who made us, and we are his, we are his people, the sheep of his pasture (verse 3).
Unlike kings of long ago, we are welcome to go to God any time of day, for any reason. We don’t have to fear being unwanted or rejected. Enter his gates…and his courts (verse 4). By the blood of Jesus we are cleansed and worthy to come into the presence of God (Hebrews 10:19-22), so let us go right in! All day long we can sit at the Lord’s feet and savor our relationship with him. We can of course bring our needs before him too. Not only can we communicate with God all day long, we can enjoy his love and presence all the days of our life. His love endures forever (verse 5).
God doesn’t want us to stop bringing him our needs and wants, but we miss out on a huge part of our relationship and blessed fellowship with the Lord when we only bring him lists. Does your prayer time need praise and worship? Let Psalm 100 reset your heart today.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father God, I love you…I worship you with joy and gladness today! Thank you for hearing my every prayer and providing for my needs. Forgive me for the times when my worship has fallen into an attitude of routine and selfishness. Prick my heart and lead me back to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
Psalm 3:3- But You oh Lord, are a shield for me; my glory and the lifter of my head.