Learning How to Talk to Him

In review of Psalm 100:5 it says, ”For the Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation” (TLB).

Today’s verse comes from Psalm 100, which is a short psalm of thanksgiving. It's an invitation to enter joyfully into God's presence. For His faithfulness extends to my generation and beyond.

The psalmist tells me to shout with joy to the Lord. Worship him with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is the God and that He made me, and that I am his. For I am part of his people, the sheep of his pasture. I am to enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into the courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

So how do I practically acknowledge that the Lord is God! I acknowledge him when I shout my praises, appreciate his status as my Creator, accept his authority in every detail of life, enthusiastically agree with the guidance he gives me, and express my thanks for his unfailing love.

God is my Creator; I did not create myself. However, many life as though they are the creator and center of their own little world. This mind-set unfortunately leads to pride, greed, idolatry, and if everything should be taken away, a loss of hope itself. But when I realize that God created us and gives me all I have, I will want to give to others as God gave to me. Then, even if all is lost, I still have God and all he gives me.

God alone is worthy of being worshiped. So what is my attitude toward worship? Do I willingly and joyfully come into God's presence, or am I just going through the motions, reluctantly going to church? This psalm tells me to remember God's goodness and dependability, and then to worship with thanksgiving and praise!

It’s not easy when people call me phone and don’t identify themselves? They just jump right in as soon as you answer, assuming I know who it is. When in reality I don’t know if it’s the pope or the pizza guy on the other end. It affects my conversation a lot. I not sure what tone to use. I’m become a bit more guarded. Even when I’m talking with someone in person, if you don’t know much about that person, I tend to be more formal. Proximity and relationship determine how I talk to somebody. What I know about somebody determines my conversation with them.

What I’m learning is that the same is true with God. My understanding of what God is really like shapes everything else in my life, including my prayers.

A lot of people have misconceptions about God. Some people think he’s a grumpy god, who’s cranky and upset all the time, and they think they can never please him. Some people picture the “crouching tiger” god, who is ready to pounce on them when they make the wrong move. Some people have the flaky father god, who’s moody and changes his mind continually about them. Some people think of God as the cosmic cop, whose goal is just to make sure you keep the rules, or the dictator god, who’s never satisfied and always demanding more and more and more. And some people have a Play-Doh god and just make him into any form they want.

I may even hear people who say, “I like to think of God as . . .”? Well, it doesn’t really matter what they think God is like. It matters what the Bible, God’s Word, says he is!

W. Tozer wrote, “What comes to your mind when you think about God is the most important thing about you, because it affects everything else in your life.”

It’s important that I know the real God. If I have a misconception about him, then prayer is going to be a duty and drudgery. God doesn’t want me to pray out of guilt! He wants me to talk to him because I love him. And I will love him more as I get to know him better through his Word.

Bottom Line:

The Lord is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.

What this means to me:

The Lord is good, his unfailing love and faithfulness will continue on forever for me and for my future generations.

In summary, enter joyfully into God's presence. His faithfulness is present in my life and in the lives of generations beyond me.  So I shout with joy to the Lord, worship him with gladness. Come before him singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is the God that made me and I am his. I am to enter his gates with thanksgiving and praise. I can acknowledge him when I shout my praises, appreciate his status as my Creator, accept his authority in every detail of my life, enthusiastically agree with the guidance he gives me. I need to remember God's goodness and dependability, and then worship with thanksgiving and praise.He wants to talk to him because I love him.

Father I do want to learn how to be more joyful and appreciative of your faithfulness and goodness. I find myself getting caught up in things being all about me and doing things under my own strength. Today I want you to be in everything I do. Provide me your wisdom and guidance in all that I do. Help me to interact and lead well and have a servant attitude. In your son Jesus name, Amen!