Past the Gates of Thanksgiving

David sang in a Psalm, I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart.

What can I give back to God for the blessings he’s poured out on me? I’ll lift high the cup of salvation-a toast to God! I’ll pray in the name of God I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it together with his people. When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him. Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it in company with his people, In the place of worship, in God’s house, in Jerusalem, God’s city. Hallelujah! (Psalm 116:12-19)

Father, I thank You for giving me Your Life, Your Kingdom, Your Son! Thank You for all the great blessings that You give daily into my life. You are my Life… my song… my joy! Here I am O God, fill me up, and then fill me again, until my life is lost in You. Let faithfulness be found in me and a servants heart waiting to do Your every will. Thank You that I can come to You. Thank You for Your great salvation! Amen

BEYOND THE COURTS OF PRAISE

He continued to sing, I will enter your courts with praise…

I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul. He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, so the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the Nations. (Isaiah 61:10)

Father, Your joy is my strength… it makes me strong. Fill my heart with joy unspeakable and may the fragrance of righteousness in full bloom as well as praise be put on display today and especially in the days to come before all the Nations of the earth, for Your Glory and for Your Honor!

I HEAR YOU CALLING ME

Jesus made the statement, Let him who has ears to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying. Am I listening to what the Spirit is saying? God is speaking. He is communicating His heart to those who have an ear tho hear Him.

Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. (Psalm 42:7)

Father, give me an ear to hear what You are saying. Purify my heart that I may hear with clarity what You are speaking. I will open the depths of my soul to You O God. Fill me to overflowing until the deep things in Your heart speaks to the deep things in my heart; until they become one. A-men

TO THE HOLY PLACE

When the priests left the Holy Place, a cloud filled The Temple of God. The priests couldn’t carry out their priestly duties because of the cloud-the glory of God filled The Temple of God! (I Kings 8:10)

Father, as the Temple of Your Holy Spirit I desire that You would find it cleansed and embellished with Holiness. That You would find a resting place within my being, the very center of my heart, where You are Lord! You desire Holiness in my inward parts. As I worship You I pray that You will find Holiness within in me in everything I do and say! Fill me up O God as I present to You the living sacrifice of my life totally surrendered, the fruit of my lips, a song of Praise…until I am consumed with you glory.

TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE

Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies… For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us… (Hebrews 9: 3, 24)

IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)

Father, thank You that You made the way to the Holy Place, not by the blood of bulls and goats, but by the blood of Jesus the Lamb. Thank You that He made the way to the Holy Place, past the outer courts, beyond the veil, into the Most Holy Place. Strike my heart with the peals of thunder that roar from Your Throne and illuminate my mind with the lightning flashes of Your Glory. Consume me in the river of fire that flows from beneath Your Throne. To You be Glory and Dominion forever! Be exalted in the earth as the true worshipers arise!