“For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.“
Psalm 100:5
Little did I know what lay ahead when I entered my ninth-grade year. Just a few months in, my family and I were packed, loaded up, and leaving Tomball, TX, for Midland. Moving away from friends and football was not easy—apprehension was an understatement.
Approaching Lee Freshman felt like being dropped into a prison yard. Entering a classroom full of freshmen I didn’t know was terrible…a real eye-opening experience. My heart was anxious, certainly was full of fear of being shamed and embarrassed, and being out of control. It didn’t take long that first day to face what I had been fearing. As I walked into first period, my teacher stopped me as I entered, told me to spit out my gum (I must have been smacking), and motioned me to her desk. She grabbed my schedule, looked up at me, and told me I was in the wrong room. Walking in front of all those faces again in their seats was quite an experience.
Have you ever cringed going somewhere? A new job? School? I-35? What makes you anxious? Likely, it’s being out of control or facing shame. In my case, it was the latter.
Psalm 100 tells an opposite story about approaching God. The Psalmist lists three attributes: God is good, full of lovingkindness, and faithfulness. These show He is trustworthy and loving.
The Psalmist offers seven imperative verbs as a framework for coming to God:
- Shout joyfully: A war-cry of triumph.
- Serve with gladness: Work with a goal of completion.
- Come before Him with joyful singing: Approach with fulfillment.
- Know that the Lord is God: Seek understanding.
- Enter His gate with thanksgiving: Come with gratitude.
- Give thanks: Agree with God’s goodness.
- Bless His name: Offer praise, worship, and adoration.
These seven verbs are the proper response to God’s goodness, lovingkindness, and faithfulness. The more we learn about God through His Word lived out in life, the more we see His trustworthiness and love, and the more likely we’ll respond as the Psalmist commands.
The question is: How well do we know Him?
— June 12, 2025