THE GATE OF THE LORD

As I was looking over Psalm 118, the psalmist requested that the gates of righteousness be open for him.  He vowed that he would enter and give thanks.  The next verse was rich: "This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter, I WILL GIVE THANKS , FOR YOU HAVE ANSWERED ME, You have become my salvation."  I am being obviously reminded that I enter His presence, by His grace, and upon that entrance, I give thanks.  I forget to be a thankful spirit.  I wished that I would FORGET to whine, complain, and grumble!  It all has to do with what am I willing to practice and what do I believe about God.  

I loved a study that I got to watch and take notes, Being Tested.  Bruce Wilkinson was the speaker, and he gave a real practical that I NEEDED to hear.  Everyday as he is journaling his prayers, he FIRST lists 10 blessings that God has done, and then after listing, he proceeds with his prayer and study.  I have been asking the LORD for a better memory to recount His goodness and blessings to me, and this was a perfect suggestion that I needed practically. 

I enter His throne room with confidence based on His grace and because He said I could enter and ask. It seems that praise and thanksgiving draw me closer to His lap and His heart.  I recall those years of loving to be held by my earthly Father climbing into his lap, so my Perfect Abba desires that I come close, cling to Him, even climbing into His lap.  I want Him to whisper again those truths that He promises and for my security in HIM, alone, to be enlarged.  "I give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever." 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LAST THOUGHT ON LEVITICUS

Image
  For the first time in many years, I have enjoyed reading through Leviticus.  I have skipped it several times and read on.  This go round, I have sought to focus on some thoughts, words, phrases, or practices that God had instituted for the Israelites and their physical and spiritual well-being.  The Ten Commandments and many of the laws have real practical value for society and the Christ follower today.  The Lord God gave them a standard, a commandment, which is applicable for today, "You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees.  I am the Lord (Jehovah) your God (Elohim).  Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them.  I am the LORD."  Leviticus 18:4-5   My concluding thought from Leviticus is this admonition or commandment:  " You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own."  Leviticus 20:26.  Even though spoken to Israel, the truth of being holy is directe
Read more

ORDER AND DESIGN

Image
    I do not have OCD, but I do confess that I like order in my home.  Now that I am retired, I am not so much into spotless, but "picked up" and "kinda" clean. (Do not open drawers and closets!) I might go to more trouble when I know I am having company, but otherwise, I remove the clutter that seems to reproduce on its own.   When I began the reading in Genesis in January, I was again taken with the with the orderliness and design of God in creation, and have seen Him use Moses and Aaron to ORDERLY marshal the Israelites to move out of Egypt. How do you move some 600+ males and that is not even wives and children? Animals also?  They have been one year+ out of Egypt, and have been camped at Mt. Sinai where God has given them laws for their spiritual and physical welfare.  God gives Moses the design of the Tabernacle and Moses is able to bring together the workers to complete the Tabernacle.   The clip art at the top is the positioning of the 12 Tribes and the
Read more

REHEARSALS

Image
  I wonder how much time do I give to rehearsing God's goodness and how He has intervened in my life to "save" me from myself?  How alike the Israelites I can be, complaining about what goes wrong, how it affects me, and what I lack.  As a Christ follower, I have the Indwelling Holy Spirit to give me remembrance NOT of my complaining and grumbling, but of a recall of God's faithfulness to me.  It is recorded in Psalms 78 and 106 that " They forgot what He had done, the wonder He had shown them", "They did not remember His power--the day He redeemed them from the oppressor...", "They did not remember Your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.", "But they soon forgot what He had done and did not wait for His counsel.", and "They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt...". Contrast with me, God's remembrance: Ps. 106:44-46, "But He took note of their distress
Read more