“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 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. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5).

What if you took some time today and followed the directives given in each verse of this psalm of praise? 

Ask for the Spirit to give you some quiet time so you can focus on praising God. Picture yourself doing some version of all the directions given. 

Shout for joy! (Maybe it’s a whispered shout; maybe it’s a loud shout that surprises those you live with.) Then picture yourself in a crowd of people all of whom belong to God, singing songs of gladness. Think about what it means to be part of God’s flock of intentionally created people. Imagine yourself entering the gates of God’s kingdom with joy. Take time to construct a prayer of thanksgiving.

You are part of an immense family here on earth and in heaven. It’s your privilege to be part of a diverse flock that’s lived, worshiped, and been blessed by God. 

God is delighted by you. He enjoys the time you spend with him. May God increase your understanding of his loving care.