Psalm 100: 4
The Word: Psalm 100: 4 (KJV)

⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Dig Deeper:
Psalm 100: 2  (KJV)

² Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Think about it

THANKSGIVING vs PRAISE….

We discussed about the inner court and the outer court yesterday. That the outer courtyard was open to the public. But the inner court was only for worshipers who are looking to offer a sacrifice. You enter the gates of the outer court with thanksgiving according to Psalm 100: 4. But when you are entering into the inner court, the password or entrance key is praise.

Psalm 100: 4
⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

So what is the difference between thanksgiving and Praise?
When someone has done something nice to you or given you a gift, you say THANK YOU. In other words THANKSGIVING is showing appreciation for a favour, a gift, something good done to you. So when we thank God, we are appreciating him for something good that he has done. Now anyone can give thanks. Even non Christians can give thanks.

What is Praise?
In the African culture especially, when you visit traditional rulers, you see people eulogising them, praising them and calling them wonderful names. They are not necessarily paying tribute to them because of what they have done. Rather they are praising them for who they are.

So thanksgiving is thanking God for what he did. But praises is paying tributes to him for who he is. Thanksgiving is for everyone, but praises is for the worshiper.

How do you praise him?
A starting point is to call him his names:

• Elohim (God)
• Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
• El Elyon (The Most High God)
• Adonai (Lord, Master)
• El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
• El Olam (The Everlasting God)
• Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
• Jehovah Rapha (The Lord Who Heals You)
• Jehovah Nissi (The Lord Is My Banner)
• El Qanna (Jealous God)
• Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
• Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
• Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
• Jehovah Raah (The Lord Is My Shepherd)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
• Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

Today why not praise him for who he is rather than for what he has done.

Prayer focus:  Praise him for everything……

On Prayer: Living life as a thank you – Nina Lesowitz
Masterlife Workbook: The Church is embarking on weeks of discipleship workbook study starting with the Masterlife: Disciple’s cross.