The Latch

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

 Psalm 100:4

I can still recall the sound of the latch being lifted on the backyard gate. It was a sound I loved as a child. Going through that gate led into a world of fun, where I spent hours swinging, playing with my dog, and enjoying countless imaginary adventures.

But there is a gate that leads into a far superior place than a childhood paradise. The psalmist speaks of a gate that leads into the presence of the Lord God.

A Jew who sang this psalm reflected upon the gates and courts of the temple and the Holy of Holies where the presence of God dwelled. Yet, no ordinary Jew could enter the presence of the Lord. This was reserved for the high priest, who would go into the Holy of Holies only once a year on the Day of Atonement.

Distanced from God’s presence...

But thanks be to God that through the death and resurrection of Jesus, the way has been opened for all who acknowledge Jesus as Lord to be permanently indwelled by God’s presence. A realm of joy has been opened to us who believe, for we know that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God.

Though God’s presence is always with us, there may be times when we feel distanced from God. Those are the times we need to lift the latch that ushers us into the conscious reality of God’s presence. The latch is twofold—thanksgiving and praise.

Voicing thanksgiving and praise to God opens our spiritual eyes to His awe-inspiriting character and His manifold workings in our life. Would you say you have a spirit of thankfulness? Are your prayers and your conversations filled with praise of God?

Lord, I desire to go through this coming year with a deeper sense of your presence and glory. Help me live daily with a deeper, prevalent spirit of thankfulness and praise.

Jan Burkhart