Entry Points
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”- Psalm 100:4
Have you ever seen an amazing feature on a house that has you dreaming and brainstorming about your own home? It could be a beautifully landscaped yard or backyard designed for hosting get togethers; it could the style of the kitchen countertops and cabinetry work; it could be the size of the master bedroom or the walk-in closet. There is a house in my neighborhood, with one of those unique features, that gets my attention and receives my approval each time I pass by it. At the ENTRY POINT, there is a tree in the middle of the walkway that creates a roundabout effect. It is simply fantastic!
The one-of-a-kind walkway on this house has me thinking about ENTRY POINTS as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. I believe that the Holy Spirit is wanting us to approach the holiday season with wide-open hearts to celebrate, to give thanks, and to possess a palpable and pulsating joy!
There are two questions to answer that will help us stay on this pathway of faith and celebration:
1. What areas are causing a continual stream and build-up of negativity?
It could be all the politics from this season; It could be a relationship that has been strained; It could be a job that is not panning out the way you thought; It could be the types of media outlets you are consuming. Take time to assess and address (through prayer and surrender) the places where your heart is filled with more complaining than celebrating.
2. How are you choosing to celebrate the holidays?
In the midst of the pandemic, politics, and pain many are feeling, we can stop the enemy from robbing the rest of this year by choosing to enter into various expressions of celebration. This can be done by inviting someone over for Thanksgiving dinner; decorating for Christmas earlier than you usually do; baking goodies for all your neighbors; increasing the number of gifts on your shopping list; and giving to a special cause to care for those in need (i.e.- Operation Christmas Child and our Thanksgiving Care giving campaign).
The Lord is calling us to celebrate in the midst of difficulties and defeats. The Gate is before us to enter the place where His love flows, His presence covers, and His hands abundantly supplies. In John 10:9 Jesus proclaims, “I am the Gate; whoever enters through Me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture.”