“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4–5, ESV)

We have been granted a wonderful privilege to approach God in freedom and assurance. We do not come on our own merit but on the merit of Jesus Christ. Because of our sins we could never approach God on our own, for He is holy, holy, holy. But God sent His only Son to be our atoning sacrifice to bridge the gap. When Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom signifying that we have complete access to the throne of grace. Therefore, we can always enter the gates of heaven with thanksgiving and praise. No matter what else is happening in life, God is greater than our circumstances, and He will help us through all of them if we trust in Him and abide in Christ.

What do we have to be thankful about? If we start naming all the ways God has blessed us, we will be amazed at His goodness. This causes our souls to erupt in spontaneous praise! I know of no better way to get my mind off my problems, anxieties and fears than to be thankful and give God praise. I just keep thanking and praising Him until my worries turn to peace and my sadness turns to joy. This is more than merely positive thinking. It is taking all my problems and concerns, big and small, to the One who can resolve them. In the light of His power and goodness, my mountains melt like wax. I see myself and others from God’s perspective.

The psalmist meditates on God’s goodness, steadfast love, and faithfulness to all generations. It is His steadfast love that draws us to love Him; it is His goodness that leads us to repentance and obedience. It is His faithfulness that causes us to lean on Him for the wisdom, grace and power that we need.

Let us enter His gates with thanksgiving today, as we personally recall how good He has been toward us and name the blessings He has brought into our lives. Let us praise Him for His goodness, unending love, and faithfulness to every generation. You may feel doubtful, discouraged or depressed when you begin, but with a renewed vision of God and the encouragement and comfort of Scripture, you will soon be filled with inexpressible joy and perfect peace. Moreover, you will have fresh insight and courage in tackling today’s challenges.