For us to be truly thankful, we need to be growing in our knowledge of God.

We need to “Know that the LORD, He is God!”

Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 3.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3 NLT)

Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3 ESV)

We learn to know God better by studying Scripture. Listed below are a few of the facts that scripture teaches us about God.

• There is only one true God.

There is … one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV)

For there is one God, …(1 Timothy 2:5 ESV)

• God created and sustains the universe and everything in it.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. …(Genesis chapters 1 & 2 ESV)

• God created us.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.  And God blessed them. (Genesis 1:27-28 ESV)

• God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

• God sent a Savior into the world.

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 ESV)

• God loves his children with an immeasurable love.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 ESV)

• God is our shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23:1-6)

Know that the LORD, He is God!

• There is only one true God.
• God created and sustains the universe and everything in it.
• God created us.
• God has a plan and a purpose for our lives.
• God sent a Savior into the world.
• God loves his children with an immeasurable love.
• God is our shepherd.

Know that the LORD,
He is God!
It is He who made us,
and we are His;
we are His people,
and the sheep of His pasture.
(Psalm 100:3 ESV)

Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 4 in a future post.

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Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.  This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 2.

Worship is a significant part of Thanksgiving.

• We can worship the Lord with singing.

Worship the Lord with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy.  (Psalm 100:2 NLT)

Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! (Psalm 100:2 ESV)

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:2 NIV)

When we worship we should do it:

Cheerfully

Willingly

Happily

Gladly

• We can worship the Lord by serving others.

Serve the LORD with gladness!

In many Scripture passages, the original words for “worship” and “serve” are used interchangeably.  We can also worship the LORD by serving others.  We should look for ways to willingly, cheerfully, happily, and joyfully serve others during this holiday season, and throughout the year.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,   I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’   “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?   When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?    When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’   “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’  (Matthew 25:35-40)

 Serve the Lord with gladness!

Worship the Lord with gladness. 

Come into his presence with singing!

Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 3 in a future post.

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Psalm 100 is a great Psalm for us to use when we want ideas of how to give thanks to the LORD.

This post will focus on Psalm 100 verse 1.

• Thanksgiving should be directed “to the Lord”. He is the focus of our praise.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! (Psalm 100:1 NLT)

 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! (Psalm 100:1 ESV)

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NIV)

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 100:1 NASB)

• Thanksgiving should be done with energy and enthusiasm.

Psalm 95:1-2 reinforces the idea of enthusiastically and joyfully praising and thanking God for all He has done for us.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Psalm 95:1-2 ESV)

Psalm 150:3-6 also encourages us to “Make a joyful noise to the LORD”.

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 150:3-6 ESV)

• Thanksgiving should be directed to the Lord with energy and enthusiasm.

 “Shout with joy to the Lord.”

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord.”

“Shout for joy to the Lord.”

“Shout joyfully to the Lord.”

“Make a joyful noise to Him.”

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! 

Happy Thanksgiving

We will look at Psalm 100 verse 2 in a future post.

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• It is good to give thanks to the Lord.

 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.  (Psalm 92:1 NLT)

• Give thanks to God because He is good.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.  (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT)

• Be thankful in all circumstances.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT)

• Thank God for sending Jesus into the world.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17 NLT)

• Thank God for the gift of salvation.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)

• If you have received this gift of salvation, thank God for giving purpose and meaning to your life.

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.  (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

As you celebrate this Thanksgiving season remember:

• It is good to give thanks to the Lord.
• Give thanks to God because He is good.
• Be thankful in all circumstances.
• Thank God for sending Jesus into the world.
• Thank God for the gift of salvation.
• If you have received this gift of salvation, thank God for giving purpose and meaning to your life.

And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20 NLT)

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Sometimes Christians, people who love the Lord with all their heart, go through some really tough times.  They feel like God has abandoned them; they feel like God is not hearing their prayers; or they may even feel that God has broken some of His promises.

These feelings are real.

The pain is intense.

Christians need to be reminded that an individual’s relationship with the Lord should not be based on feelings.  Rather an individual’s relationship with God should be based on the promises of Scripture.

God is a holy God.  He is perfect. God does not lie.  He will keep all of His promises.  God does not change His mind.

 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?  (Numbers 23:19 NLT)

And he who is the Glory of Israel (God) will not lie, nor will he change his mind, for he is not human that he should change his mind!”  (1 Samuel 15:29 NLT)

God does not abandon His people.  A Christian’s relationship with God is a relationship that will last for eternity.

 … God has said, “I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”  (Hebrews 13:5 NLT)

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, (John 10:28 NLT)

God will keep every single promise that He has given to us in His Word.

The very essence of your words is truth;
    all your just regulations will stand forever.  (Psalm 119:160 NLT)

 …  teach them your word, which is truth.  (John 17:17 NLT)

 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.  (Hebrews 6:18 NLT)

 Satan, the deceiver, is eager to plant doubt in the minds of a believer.   Unlike God, Satan is a liar.

 … Satan, the one deceiving the whole world … (Revelation 12:9 NLT)

He (Satan) has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44 NLY)

Don’t be deceived.  Don’t allow yourself to be lied to.  Don’t let your feelings mislead you.  Trust God and believe His promises.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”  (Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT)

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Christians are called to live their lives by believing and trusting in God’s Word and in His promises.  In other words, Christians are called to live by faith.

For we live by believing (by faith) and not by seeing. (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT)

 … hold up the shield of faith … (Ephesians 6:16 NLT)

 Living by faith means going through life believing that God will do everything that He says He will do.

 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.  (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

When Christians stop believing the promises of God and depend on their own understanding they have dropped their shield of faith and are open to Satan’s attacks.

… hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  (Ephesians 6:16 NLT)

Stay alert.  Don’t drop your shield.  Never lose faith.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

How do we as Christians keep from dropping our shield?  How do we keep from losing faith?

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  (Hebrews 12:2NLT)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
(Proverbs 3:5 NLT)

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God wants us to have a relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. He wants us to enjoy all of the blessings that come from that relationship.

God wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.  (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

… God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 NLT)

Jesus wants a personal and intimate relationship with His people.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.  (Revelation 3:20 NLT)

Jesus wants to give rest to the weary.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  (Matthew 11:28 NLT)

Jesus wants us to have a rich and satisfying life.

My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10 NLT)

God wants to give people a future and a hope.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

or

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)

Jesus wants His followers to live with Him in Heaven forever.

When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:3 NLT)

Summary:

• God wants everyone to be saved and understand the truth.
• Jesus wants a personal and intimate relationship with His people.
• Jesus wants to give rest to the weary.
• Jesus wants us to have a rich and satisfying life.
• God wants to give people a future and a hope.
• Jesus wants His followers to live with Him in Heaven forever.

But to all who believed him (Jesus) and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT)

You may also want to read, “Whoever Believes …”

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Recently I had cataract surgery.  The surgery resulted in noticeably clearer, sharper vision.  For the surgeon, the process was routine and was completed in a short period of time.  However, this is a procedure I could not have done myself. I needed someone to do the procedure for me.  I am so glad I asked the surgeon to perform the surgery.  My vision has improved tremendously.

Sometimes our spiritual vision is clouded.  We have trouble understanding Biblical principles.  We need clearer, sharper spiritual vision.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”  (Matthew 6:22-23 NLT)

 Spiritual blindness is a condition we cannot fix.  We need to ask God to open our eyes so that we can turn from darkness to light.  Our prayer should be:

Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.  (Psalm 119:18)

 Jesus can do for us as he did for the two men on the road to Emmaus.

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him… (Luke 24:31 NLT)

Do you need spiritual eye surgery?  Do you want clearer, shaper vision?  Ask God to open your eyes to His wonderful truths in the scriptures.

Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.
(Proverbs 20:12 NLT)

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Are you going through tough times?  Picture yourself being carried in God’s arms.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will carry the lambs in his arms,
holding them close to his heart.
He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young. (Isaiah 40:11 NLT)

The Bible has many encouraging promises for Christians.

God made us and we are His.

Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  (Psalm 100:3 NLT)

Jesus knows us by name.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me …” (John 10:14 NLT)

 … the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  (John 10:3 NLT)

As sheep belonging to Jesus we have all that we need.

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. (Psalm 23:1 NLT)

Jesus promises us eternal life.  We will never perish.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, (John 10:27-28 NLT)

REMEMBER:

• God made us and we are His.
• Jesus knows us by name.
• As sheep belonging to Jesus we have all that we need.
• Jesus promises us eternal life. We will never perish.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”  (John 10:11 NLT)

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Many people see value in physical exercise.   Exercise, a healthy diet, and a good night’s sleep are necessary to maintain healthy bodies.

The body of Christ also benefits from exercise.

All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.  (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT)

Romans 1:8-14 reminds Christians of seven things they should be doing for the church, the body of Christ.

• Thank God for other believers.

Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. (Romans 1:8 NLT)

•  Pray constantly for each other.

 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, … . (Romans 1:9 NLT)

•  Fellowship with other believers.

 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. (Romans 1:10 NLT)

•  Equip others to do God’s work.

 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. (Romans 1:11 NLT)

• Encourage each other.

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. (Romans 1:12 NLT)

•  Look for spiritual fruit in others. (Look for good in others.)

^… I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit… (Romans 1:13 NLT)

•  Remember what God has done for you and commit to serve Him by serving others.

For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. (Romans 1:14 NLT)

Seven Body Building Exercises

• Thank God for other believers.
• Pray constantly for each other.
• Fellowship (practice community) with other believers.
• Equip others to do God’s work.
• Encourage each other.
• Look for spiritual fruit in others. (Look for good in others.)
• Remember what God has done for you and commit to serve Him by serving others.

“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 NLT)

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