How To Start 2025 In The Best Way

The King's Church International Audio Podcast

What is the best way to enter this year? Well Psalm 100:4 shows us how. It says: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

No matter how many fireworks parties we may have attended in the countdown to another year, and no matter how many good resolutions we may make, by far the best way to start this year, is to be full of thanks to God and to praise His name.

- Praising God is one of the greatest secrets of success in any year

- Praising God will raise your spirits

- Praising God will release hope

- Praising God will build your faith

- Praising God will change the atmosphere

- Praising God will open prison doors (just as happened for Paul and Silas when they sang hymns at midnight after they were beaten in Philippi)

- Praising and thanking God will bring you into a lifestyle of freedom and joy.

The Bible teaches us that thankfulness is more than just good manners: it's a very big part of our relationship with God. When we are really grateful to God, we align our hearts with God's will, and we open ourselves up to His many blessings. Gratitude helps us shift our focus from what we don’t have to all the amazing things God has already given us.

Today so many people are down and depressed because they fail to recognise the many blessings that they should be thankful for. Others spend their time praising the gods of this world: entertainment, sport, fashion, financial success, fame…. only to find that they do not bring lasting satisfaction.

When you praise God, however you are recognising who and what is most important in life no matter what circumstances may look like in a particular moment (2 Chronicles 20-22). The Bible teaches us, in both Old and New Testaments and particularly in the book of Psalms, that we should always be full of thanks to God. We should praise the Lord at all times (Psalm 34:1 (NLT); Acts 2:46-47; Ephesians 5:20). We should praise the Lord in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6-7).We should praise the Lord in all places (Psalm 150:1). We should praise the Lord for all reasons (Psalm 150:2). We should praise the Lord by all means (Psalm 150:3-5).

So, who should praise the Lord? All people (Psalm 150:6; Psalm 100:1). And if you still want to know why we should praise the Lord and give thanks to Him, Psalm 100 is very clear. We should praise the Lord because:

1. The Lord is God (Psalm 100:3; Hebrews 11:6; 1 Samuel 2:2)

2. The Lord is our creator (Psalm 100:3)

3. The Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 100:3)

4. The Lord has made the way for us to come into His presence (Psalm 100:4; Hebrews 10:22)

5. The Lord is good (Psalm 100:5)

6. The Lord’s love endures forever (Psalm 100:5; Psalm 136)

7. The Lord’s faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5; Deuteronomy 7:9-16; Acts 2:38-39)

Apply

1. The Lord is God (Psalm 100:3). The God of the Bible is the God of gods, King of kings and Lord of lords (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Samuel 2:2).

2. The Lord is our creator (Psalm 100:3). We didn’t get here by accident or some unproved evolutionary process. We are the products of a great Creator who can recreate our lives when we have messed up and come to God in repentance.

3. The Lord is our shepherd (Psalm 100:3). Jesus is the great shepherd who comes looking for us and looks after us forever when we receive Him. He leads us gently to places of rest and refreshment. He walks with us in times of darkness. He provides for us even when enemies attack. He causes His anointing to overflow on us. He always shows us His goodness and mercy.

4. The Lord has made the way for us to come into His presence (Psalm 100:4). He invites us to enter His gates and His courts. We cannot enter God’s courts by our own righteousness, but through Jesus’ shed blood for unclean sinners we can draw near to God (Hebrews 10:22).

5. The Lord is good (Psalm 100:5). The Lord is good. His character is totally good, there is nothing bad about Him. He is king and generous and willing to bless you with his goodness.

6. The Lord’s love endures forever (Psalm 100:5). His unconditional mercy never fails. Psalm 136 repeats that His steadfast love endures forever. His love never runs out.

7. The Lord’s faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5). The God who made covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their natural and spiritual descendants, keeps His word to all who follow Him (Deuteronomy 7:9-16; Acts 2:38-39). Many have seen God’s blessing in past generations in their families, but even if we have not, you can receive Him and His blessings in your life and generation, and so also can your children and grandchildren and every generation to come.

Here are so many great reasons to enter this year with thanksgiving. Decide that from this day forward, every day you will be thankful to God and will always praise His name. At the start of this year, make these declarations today and anticipate what God will do in your life this year:

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because this is the day that the Lord has made, and His mercies are new every morning

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because I can trust him to guard my heart and mind in every situation.

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because the Lord is my Saviour, shepherd, my strength and my shield

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because my Heavenly Father knows my needs and is able to bless me abundantly.

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God every day because I will see miracles in my life because nothing is impossible to God

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God for in every circumstance because I will be more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ who gives me strength

- In 2025 I will be thankful and praise God for every blessing to me and to my family because I believe that the Lord is good and his love endures forever; and that his faithfulness continues through all generations.