Word of the Day
Beloved, I have come to redirect your focus and draw you into a place of gratefulness and freedom. I am here to remind you how important it is to enter My presence with thanksgiving and praise each and every time you come. Lay hold of this and it will transform your life. My heart is drawn to My grateful ones. Appreciation and gratitude are the foundations of contentment in all things and enables you to behold Me with a clean and pure heart.
On the Day of Atonement My people brought two young goats that they might be cleansed of all their sin. One was chosen for sacrifice and a scarlet cloth was tied around its neck to distinguish it as the one to be sacrificed (a shadow of the Lamb to come). The other goat became the scapegoat and was held outside My holy place. The sacrificial lamb was slain and its blood taken into My holy place to be presented to Me with the burning of incense. As the smoke, representing My presence, filled the room, the priest sprinkled blood in front of the mercy seat seven times.
All the while My people lay prostrate as the sacrifice ensued; knowing atonement for their sins was taking place. Their sins were being forgiven—they were being covered. The priest left the holy place and put on his regular priestly garments. The entire people rose, for a time of rejoicing was at hand as the priest laid his hands on the “scapegoat.” The laying on of hands transferred all sins, all the iniquity of the people to the head of the scapegoat. Their sins were removed and placed on the young goat and it was led away into the wilderness where it could not return.
In doing this, My people could see in a visible way the removal of their sins and that they would not return. My son Jesus came as your scapegoat and carried away your sins as far as the east is from the west, never to return. This is cause to rejoice, cause to have a heart of thanksgiving and praise just as Israelites did when their sins were removed and carried away by the scapegoat.
No matter the trials and sufferings of this life—no matter what you endure, you must enter My courts with thanksgiving for what I did on the Cross. To be redeemed by My blood which enables you to behold Me is more than enough to generate a grateful heart. Beloved, let today be a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving for what I have done for you. Come into My courts and behold Me. Come and feast at My table. All is prepared and I am waiting for you to recline and sup with Me. Come.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! (Psalms 100:4 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, please forgive me for looking more at what I do not have than what You have done for Me, starting with the Cross. First and foremost You have given me eternal life. For this alone, I am most grateful . . . . I thank you for choosing without hesitation to lay down Your life on my behalf. Open my eyes to see and know all You have done for me. Put a guard upon my lips and anoint my speech with thankful praise. You have removed my sin as far as the East from the West, never to return.
Trials and suffering do not negate Your goodness or Your willingness to act on my behalf. Create in me a clean heart and a steadfast spirit that I might forever walk with a thankful heart. I come into Your courts today with thanksgiving and praise for the salvation of my soul. I come to behold You with a grateful heart. I come to recline at Your table. I come to sup with You. Amen
Reflect and Journal
- In what ways have you found yourself being more critical than grateful?
- Have you used your prayer time with the Lord to complain about things in your life or to cultivate a thankful spirit?
- Take some time to focus on something outside of yourself and begin thanking Him for the Cross and the eternal life it purchased for you. This will lead to thankfulness in all areas.