10/19/2026
Thanksgiving and Praises
One evening, while scrolling aimlessly through my Bible app, I stumbled upon Psalm 100:4 — “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!’’ I paused. Could gratitude be the key to finding peace during chaos?
I grabbed a notebook and listed three things I was thankful for that day: my comfortable bed, the nice weather, and my morning coffee. Though not groundbreaking, it was a start.
One day, I was frustrated and close to tears. I turned on some worship music and started singing along. The chorus of one song struck me deeply: “You are never going to let me down.” At that moment, I remembered all the times God had been faithful, and my frustration vanished. The more I practiced thanksgiving, the more natural it became. I started thanking God for bigger blessings: supportive friends, greater joy in my family, and more confidence in God.
When we praise God, we are acknowledging God’s goodness, faithfulness, and unchanging love. Psalm 100:4 gives a beautiful vision of how thanksgiving and praise usher us into God’s gates and lead us to deeper relationship with God. Living out this verse changed my outlook, revived my relationships and prayer life, and changed how I handle stress. Gratitude became a habit, and praise became my default response to challenges.
Today's Prayer
Praiseworthy God, grant us a spirit of thanksgiving and praise so that we can rejoice in your goodness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This devotion is credited to the Upper Room and is written by Dickson Okorafor (Anambra, Nigeria).
