“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

Three thoughts:

“Know that the LORD is God…” An attitude of thankfulness and a spirit of joy is dependent on the extent to which we believe in the reality of God. If you don’t settle the fact of your origin and purpose, the resulting insecurity will rob you of any long-term thanksgiving.

Second, God calls you by name. He claims you as his own, like a groom is proud to present his bride. “It is he who made us, we are his.” Though you may find yourself rejected and overlooked by many others, God will never be one of them. He will not–can not–walk away. Even on the worst of days, this is something that leaves me both relieved and thankful.

And finally, “…the LORD is good and his love endures forever.” There are many from whom I seek love. And a few of them really do love me, as best they can. But in end, the love they pour into my life is imperfect, like trying to pour a glass of Koolaid from a pitcher with a hole in it. Most of the time the Koolaid makes a sticky mess and my glass remains half empty. I am needy and unable to reciprocate. And, still, God never tires of loving me. His love and faithfulness endure forever.

Thank heavens.