Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
Thanksgiving, Chanukah, and the New Year have been celebrated, and now we are back to “everyday living.” Scripture continuously admonishes us to maintain an attitude of gratitude, an attitude of thankfulness and to do so with plenty of rejoicing and noise. In these days of angst and uncertainty, maintaining this attitude is critical. Below are some of the ways to do so:
Offer Yahweh Praise and Thanksgiving
Psalm 100:4 – “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
Psalm 107:22 – “And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.”
Psalm 116:17 – “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving.”
Hebrews 13:15 – “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to Yahweh.”
How many times have you begun to enter the sanctuary of a church only to find a sign that reads something like this: “Enter in Silence.” Or like this: “Please maintain a respectful silence.” Or perhaps like this: “Upon entering the Nave, please be thoughtful, be silent, and be reverent.” Entering into Yahweh’s presence quietly is not how scripture tells us to enter into his presence, is it! We are to enter into Yahweh’s presence declaring his name, his works, and to do so with rejoicing and thanksgiving!
Play an Instrument
Psalm 33:2 – “Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!”
Psalm 147:7 – “Sing unto Yahweh with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto him.”
Psalm 149:3 – “Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!”
Psalm 150:5 – “Praise him with loud cymbals; Praise him with resounding cymbals.”
How many times have you heard a congregation discuss whether or not which musical instruments are appropriate? I find nothing in scripture that limits what kind of instruments can be used to praise Yahweh. Just the opposite, in fact. Here is just a small sampling of the instruments mentioned in scripture: castanet, cymbals, flute, harp, lyre, organ, pipe, reed, shofar, tambourine, timbrel, and trumpet. Entering into Yahweh’s presence quietly is not how scripture tells us to enter into his presence! We are to enter into Yahweh’s presence with cymbals, and lyres, and other loud, noisy instruments!
Sing a Song unto Yahweh
Psalm 28:7 – “Yahweh is my strength and my shield; . . . and with my song I give thanks to him.”
Psalm 40:3– “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to Yahweh.”
Psalm 69:30 – “I will praise the name of Yahweh with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalm 81:2 – “Raise a song, strike the timbrel. The sweet sounding lyre with the harp.”
Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.”
Singing a song, or many songs, is one of the breathtaking and awesome ways to enter into worship. Entering into Yahweh’s presence quietly is not how scripture tells us to enter into his presence! We are to enter into Yahweh’s presence singing songs, psalms, hymns, even with a new song!
Fulfill a Vow
Psalm 22:25 – “From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him.”
Psalm 50:14 – “Offer unto Yahweh thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High.”
Jonah 2:9 – “But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay.”
Ecclesiastes 5:4 – “When you vow a vow to Yahweh, do not delay paying it . . . Pay what you vow.”
Paying vows is a very serious matter according to scripture. Ecclesiastes 5:5 finishes with the words: “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” Failing to pay a vow, in fact, is acting sinfully. Deuteronomy 23:21 puts it this way: “When you make a vow to Yahweh your Elohim, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you.” Paying vows is another way to enter into Yahweh’s presence to praise and thank him for all he has done and continues to do.
Maintain a Heart of Gratitude
Colossians 2:6-7 – “Therefore as you have received Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, walk . . . overflowing with gratitude.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of Yahweh in Yeshua Ha’Mashiach for you.”
Hebrews 12:28 – “Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to Yahweh an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
A thankful heart filled with gratitude is a joy, delight, and blessing to Yahweh. We are to be thankful and give praise no matter what our circumstances. Maintaining a heart of gratitude is another way to enter into Yahweh’s presence to praise and thank him for all he has done and continues to do.
Conclusions
Scripture continuously admonishes us to Maintain an Attitude of Gratitude, an attitude of thankfulness, an attitude of praise, and to do so with plenty of rejoicing and noise no matter what our circumstances. Next time you enter the nave of a church and see one of those “noise” limiting signs, I say “choose instead to praise Yahweh loudly.” Demonstrate your attitude of gratitude by offering Yahweh praise and thanksgiving, by singing a song, by playing an instrument, or by paying a vow. What do you say?
Website: https://raptureparty.net/
Email: jeff@raptureparty.net