...and His courts with praise

I was worshipping this morning as I listened to my all-time favorite group, Watermark. The song "You Are" began playing and I can't describe the feelings that washed over me. There was an instant peace and a renewed love for the Lord that I have been missing for such a long time.

Oh, I've loved the Lord in my heart since the moment He saved me, called me His own, and gave me His Holy Spirit. But, so often, my feelings for Him and my nearness to Him fade until I feel so cold and far. In those moments, I always look back and wonder, "What happened? How did I get here in my relationship with the Creator of the Universe...the Lover of my Soul?" And then I always remember, it is through small steps that we move, whether toward God or away from Him. I've gotten caught up in daily life as a wife and new mommy. My Bible has gotten buried under piles of cloth diapers and dishes. Not literally, thank goodness, but in my heart and my life, it feels as if the Important has taken a back-seat to the urgent. I've become a Martha...AGAIN. Sigh.

It is quiet moments like this morning, when I feel a renewed love for God, that I am reminded how I can have this feeling daily. I posted in Novemeber about entering God's gates with thanksgiving. I have been trying to be more thankful for the wonderful things God has done in my life, and I truly believe that my relationship with Him has grown closer since I have been more intentional in this. But, now I'm ready to move a step closer to His Throne. I'm ready to enter His courts.

Check out Psalm 100:4 again. "We enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His Name."

I've thought for years that thanksgiving and praise were essentially the same things. However, at the women's conference I wrote about in November, we learned that thanksgiving means thanking God for the things He has done, and praise means thanking God for WHO HE IS. There is a pretty significant difference between the two, and we should be doing both on a daily basis.

God has done great things because He IS great. We can't stop at just thanking God for what He has done if we want to experience true intimacy with Him. We must praise His character and divine attributes. That is what I did this morning, and, I believe, that is why I felt such a nearness to Him. I encourage you to do this in your own life. Just start listing all the wonderful things that God is to you. Research it in His Word. Praise Him for Who He Is. It will change your life and your relationship to God, in such a good, GOOD way.

"You Are" by Watermark

Sunlight, Moonlight, Laughter, Wind and Rain
Singer, Creator, Artist, The Old and the New

You are, You are, You are these things
Father, You are my Everything
You are, You are, You are to me,
Jesus, You are my Everything

Keeper, Sustainer, Shelter, Life and Love
Righteous, Mysterious, Spontaneous, Madly in love with me

You are, You are, You are these things
Father, You are my Everything
You are, You are, You are to me,
Jesus, You are my Everything

You hovered over all that was formed
and you made beauty out of nothing.
You made it all and saw it was good
You made it wonderful...because You're wonderful

Stillness, Movement, Helper, Strength and Shield
Worthy, Endless, Everywhere, All the Air...All the Air I Breathe

You are, You are, You are these things

Father, You are my Everything
You are, You are, You are to me,
Jesus, You are my Everything