Daily Devotional Thursday Thoughts with Total Apex Media | September 18, 2025

It’s time for Thursday’s daily devotion. It’s time to dig deep. In Psalm 100, David begins verse 4 with an invitation to enter God’s house. Not only is he inviting us, but he is also instructing us on how to enter. Most people enter God’s house, the church, without a care in the world. Maybe they’re rushing to get to their favorite seat. Or perhaps they’re chatting with friends. Or they’ve been overburdened with life’s trials, so they’ve come in heavy and despondent. But David gives us the right posture for entering the house of the Lord.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Enter His Gates

When David was king, the house of the Lord was in a tent, or tabernacle.  It had an outer court, inner court, and Holy of Holies. The entrance to the tent was through a gate. Everyone had to enter this way to get to the outer court. It’s easy not to think about how you enter the Lord’s house. After all, it’s just an entrance. But when you think about WHOSE house you’re entering, you should reconsider.

This is God’s house, the Almighty One, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is the One whom all praise is due. When Jesus entered the temple and found merchants selling doves and sheep, He made a whip and drove them out. He forbade His father’s house, a house of prayer, to be dishonored.

In today’s daily devotion, make a declaration to honor God’s house by entering with an attitude of praise.

With Thanksgiving

We should enter God’s house with thanksgiving in our hearts. The Amplified version says to enter with songs of thanksgiving. You may not walk in the door singing, but have an attitude of thankfulness to God. The Bible teaches us to sing and make melody in our hearts unto the Lord. When entering God’s house, focus on God. Direct all thanksgiving to Him.

For it’s the Lord’s house. Put away drama and selfish thoughts. This day is all about Him and giving Him the praise that He is worthy of. In today’s daily devotion, commit to focusing on God alone as you enter into His house.

Courts with Praise

After the Hebrews entered the gate, they were in the outer court. This was a place where worship was active and alive. There was a lampstand, which represented God as the light of our lives. Also, there was a table of bread because He is the Bread of Life. And the altar of sacrifice represented God’s ultimate sacrifice for mankind. All of these elements pointed to the God of our salvation.

So, as we enter the Lord’s house, let’s praise Him. Praise Him with singing, shouting, or lifting your hands. Don’t focus on what anyone else may think, not on what happened yesterday. Focus on praising God. In today’s daily devotion, remember to enter God’s house with praise.

Be Thankful

We are called to have thanksgiving in our hearts and to be thankful to Him. What’s the difference? Having thanksgiving or gratitude is having an attitude of gratefulness to God. Thankfulness is making it personal. You thank God for what He’s done for you. For example, you’re grateful that God is good. You’re thankful that He blessed you with your dream job.

During this daily devotion, begin to thank God for what He has done in your life. Thank Him for answering prayers and blessing you through others.

Bless His Name

How do you bless God’s name? The Amplified Classic version says, “Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!” Don’t be quiet about it. When you’re excited about someone or something, you say something. You express your exuberance. God has been good to you, so don’t just stand there, tell Him thank you.

Also, speak well of Him. Tell others about Him. We are called to be His witnesses. We are called to lift His name and proclaim His goodness.  Psalm 114 says that from the rising of the sun, till it sets, God’s name is worthy to be praised. In our Thursday devotion time, get vocal with your praise. Give Him glory and praise for His blessings in your life, and tell others!

Final Thoughts

David’s powerful psalm speaks about entering God’s house. When a fire breaks out, the instruction is to stop, drop, and roll. Our God is called in Scripture a Consuming Fire. So as we enter His house, stop and offer thanksgiving, praise, and thankfulness. In today’s daily devotion, let’s make our next entrance into God’s house a time of honor, thanksgiving, and praise to the God who is worthy of it all.