Ready:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the LORD is good, and his faithful love endures forever, his faithfulness through all generations.” – Psalm 100:4-5
Set:
The demeanor of athletes as they come to practice often determines how that practice will go. High energy and an upbeat attitude typically lead to a good practice. Low energy and grumbling usually result in a practice that’s a struggle.
Coaches remind athletes of this: whether or not their current circumstances are favorable, each player can choose their demeanor as they come to practice. Even when things are not going well, they can recognize that playing sports is a wonderful gift. It’s a privilege to compete, be part of the team, have the health to be able to compete, etc. No matter the circumstances, athletes can choose to come each day with the right perspectives and intentions.
Psalm 100:4 points out that we have a similar choice in how we come to God. “Gates” and “courts” are references to the temple. For the people of God in the psalmist’s day, the temple was far more than a building. It was believed to be the means through which God fulfilled His promise to dwell with them, to be present in their midst. To “enter his gates…and his courts” is a way of saying, “Come into the presence of God.”
How are we to come? With thanksgiving and praise. Verse 4 is simultaneously an invitation and a command—because we need both. When things are going well for us, verse 4 invites us to direct our gratitude to the One from who is the source of all blessings. When life is hard, we are still directed to “give thanks to him and bless his name.” Why? The psalmist tells us in verse 5: the Lord is good, loving, and faithful.
It comes down to what we choose. We can choose to allow our circumstances to define our perspective. Or we can choose to focus on what is true of God in every situation. God is always good, always loving, and always faithful. He is therefore always worthy of our gratitude and worship. When we come to God with this type of demeanor, it helps us have the right attitude as a competitor and in how we approach all of life.
Go:
When are you tempted to allow your circumstances to determine your demeanor?
What helps you choose to come to God each day with gratitude and praise?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord, I come to You with gratitude and praise. Thank You for the amazing blessings You give me today and each day. I praise You because You are good, loving, and faithful. I pray that my demeanor would be determined by who You are, not my circumstances. Amen.”