Listen:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).
Reflect:
As 2025 draws to a close, we encourage our Lifesprings community to set aside time for a year-end examen. With hearts prepared, we begin with the first step, looking back with gratitude. Psalm 100 reminds us to do just that — upon entering His gates begin with thanksgiving and praising His name.
Most mornings I try to start my day, coffee in hand, sitting outside, waiting for the sunrise, being, breathing with God. It is a sacred space for me, and yet…How many mornings do I plop down on my swing and begin by offering my shortcomings, needs and requests, often with some worry and/or angst. I know God loves, sees and hears me and I sense my Good Shepherd’s gentle encouragement for a do-over.
I begin instead with a breath prayer, and then give thanks for His goodness and/or offer a praise to the One who loves me forever, no matter what! And when I’m still, and listening, something amazing happens, His peace floods my soul.
From this place of peace, I am ready to allow His kindness to lead me to repentance, to trust Him with my concerns, to let go of my anxieties… believing His faithfulness to me will continue to my future generations.
How I enter His gates truly matters.
Prayer of Response:
Oh Lord, You are good. Your tender mercies are new each morning, Your perfect love endures forever. I praise and speak Your name Jesus over those I love, my family, my friends, my city, my country, the world. Thank You for your love and compassion. Lead me Holy Spirit in all I do or say to be a vessel of Your great love that endures forever.
Questions to Ponder:
- Are you mindful of how you enter your prayer times?
- How might the Spirit be prompting you to make a change in how you begin with God each day?
Breath Prayers:
Join us in praying breath prayers each day. We invite you to write your own as well.
Inhale (Breathe in): Holy Spirit help me
Exhale (Breathe out): to begin with thanksgiving and praise.
Inhale (Breathe in): Thank You Lord,
Exhale (Breathe out): for Your steadfast love endures forever.
—Submitted by: Terri La Brie
Terri serves on the Lifesprings Executive team as the director of Prayer. She and husband Joe live in Southern California where they raised Traci, Erinne, Tyler and Danielle- now married and living in four different states. They thank God for their kids, their spouses and the 13 precious grandchildren they’ve been given, each one a gift and a joy to hold in prayer. Terri and Joe enjoy traveling to visit them all as much as they can throughout the year.