Submitted by Pastor Mike Christian, Jr., Tarkio Assembly of God

“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 has 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

How fulfilling is your prayer life? Do you feel you’re really making contact with God in heaven or do you feel disconnected?

One of the greatest Psalms in the Bible is Psalm 100! Within it, we can see the steps we should take when entering into the Lord’s presence.

1) “Worship the Lord with Gladness!” We must first be in an attitude of “Worship” that is accompanied by “Gladness.” Our heart and soul need to already be prepared to enter into the holy presence of our holy Lord and God. We need to be “Joyful” when we come into His presence. Can you imagine how boring it must be for God to listen to people who continuously mumble their prayers. Lift up your voice, Bless the Lord, Exalt Him! Worship Him with Gladness!

2) “Come before Him with Joyful Songs!” As we enter into the Lord’s presence, we should already be singing a love song to Him. You and I have been created to “Worship” the Lord with every part of our being. As we sing praises to the Lord, He will “inhabit the praises of His people,” and His heart will be filled with love, compassion and mercy towards us.

3) “Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving!” Learn how to “Thank God!” Our hearts need to be filled with gratitude for the blessings God has given us. We must learn to express our appreciation for His blessings without being inhibited by those who surround us. He is worthy of all praise! As we begin to express our “Thanks” openly to Him, the Lord will not only hear our prayers, He will also answer our prayers.

4) “Enter His Courts with Praise!” Begin to tell God how wonderful He truly is to you. Articulate your feelings towards God with your lips. There is true “Power in Praise!” Our souls should constantly cry out to the Lord with praise!

5) “Give Thanks to Him and Praise His Name!” You and I have countless things to praise God for – so lift your voice and “Give Him Thanks” and “Praise His Name!”

So, as we consider all the blessings the Lord has given us through this past year, may we truly be a “Thankful” people. As we follow these steps, our prayers will come before the Lord in a beautiful presentation of “Worship, Praise, and Thanks” that will surely touch His heart. By this, we can know that our prayers are being heard and will be answered.

  May the Lord bless and keep you in His Mighty Hand!