I have been reading through the book of Psalms and I recently read Psalm 100. This psalm is to give grateful praise to our Father. I think I am going to make it a point to memorize it. It is so rich, beautiful, and true. Honestly, a lot went through my mind when I was reading it as well. Specifically, I thought about joy, being God’s sheep, and our attitudes in praising him. So, I figured I would share my thoughts with you all.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs” Psalm 100:1-2
You know, there was a time when I would wonder how I could possibly worship the Lord with joy, especially when I was unhappy and sad. But I do not wonder that anymore. I have found that one can be unhappy but joyful at the same time. Do you know how? Happiness tends to be more based on the circumstances around us while joy is inward. True joy is deeper and stronger than happiness. It is an assurance of God’s love. He is there with us, no matter the circumstances around us. Joy comes from God. The world’s view of happiness depends on what happens TO us. The joy that comes from God depends on what happens IN us.
In the darkness I’ll dance. In the shadows I’ll sing. The joy of the Lord is my strength.
Rend Collective – Joy of The Lord
“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3
We are God’s. We are his people, his sheep. Honestly, I used to not like picturing myself as a sheep. Why would I want to? I do not want to be seen as a passive or frightened animal. But that is not the picture of sheep we are seen as. Instead of being seen as passive and frightened, we take on the sheep’s quality of being obedient. We are obedient followers that will follow the one who will lead us in the right places and the right ways. The Shepherd, God, guides and protects. We know who he is and agree with the guidance he gives us.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” Psalm 100:4
I never want to go through the motions of just worshiping our Father. I never want to read my Bible out of habit, or just go to church out of habit. I never want to be distracted when singing praises to him, in worshipping him. But I know at times I have. I am pretty sure we all have, but not all the time. The cares of normal life can sometimes get in our way of enjoying, praising, and giving thanks to God. When we notice this happening, we should lay at his feet our cares and distractions. We need to just dwell and remember his goodness. We need to remember his dependability. If we tend to do this, more and more often our attitudes will change. Instead of being distracted, we will worship God our Father with praise and thanksgiving.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations
Psalm 100:5
Scriptural Musings with Booferchick 
You’re right that our happiness and joy must not be dependent on our natural circumstances. We can always rejoice. In fact, we are commanded to do so (Phil. 4:4). Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and we can draw it out through faith. It’s a choice, we can either focus on our circumstances or our new spirit in Christ as it is revealed in the Word. As we worship the Lord by faith and in spirit and truth, the joy that is in our spirits will flow in our lives as well. Indeed, joy comes from God, and as His beloved children in Christ, we are full of it. We just don’t fully comprehend it sometimes, but through the help of the Holy Spirit we can do that and allow Him to minister to us.
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