Psalm 100:4-5 English Standard Version

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

⁵ For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

It is a tradition that verses of the day appear like this just before Thanksgiving. It is a reminder of attitudes of gratitude and what is proper and right. We may agree on the need and this will create a bond of fellowship as we gather this week.

What does this do for us on a personal scale? Does it address any particular concerns we have at the moment? Is it a help in times of trouble?

Look at the word gate and ask ourselves if we have a complete understanding of what that means.

“The Jaffa Gate shows us viscerally that ancient city gates were not just entrances. Instead, they were the natural focal point for public life. 

The Bible itself records that city gates were used in various ways. At the gates people would finalise business deals (Genesis 23), arrange marriages (Ruth 4) and settle disputes in the presence of witnesses (Amos 5). The king used gates to address his subjects (2 Samuel 18).” Quote from firmisrael.org

Have we dealt with the matters of mankind before we come within His courts? If we intend to enter in with thanksgiving, then have we settled our issues with mankind first?

Matthew 5:23-24 English Standard Version

²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Remember that the breaking of bread together began with making peace and a covenant with one another. Then we can be thankful together.

John 10:10 English Standard Version (ESV) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

We left off with the thoughts that some of us have lost our peace and the result can be a failure to be thankful. This opening verse is progressive in that “the thief” begins with stealing our peace. If we are in tune with our peace from God, then disturbing the peace is the first sign we are under some kind of spiritual attack.

What are the outward signs we show when someone is disturbing the peace? Complaining? Seems rather natural to complain when people are disturbing the peace. Does that mean we are under spiritual attack? It is possible that by the time we are exhibiting outwardly these signs that we have already been under attack spiritually. Spiritual peace allows us to deal with human disturbances.

If this is true, what are the signs of spiritual disturbing of our peace? Considering that this peace comes from God, then it can be assumed that something is happening with our spiritual time with God.

Have we been reading His Word regularly? Have we been in prayer regularly? Have we spent time meditating on His Word? Have we made time to fellowship?

Has our spiritual routine been disturbed?

Since our peace comes from God, then this is where we might look first for a sign of our cutting off the source of peace.

Philippians 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Anxiety is the nemesis of peace. Anxiety is the leading edge in loss of trust. Lose trust, lose peace.

If we have lost it, we are told to go to God for it.