I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. Psalm 34:1 (NLT)
David penned Psalm 34 while fleeing for his life. With Saul on one side and King Achish on the other, David was “very much afraid” (1 Samuel 21:12). Yet despite his fear, David chose praise over panic.
Remember, David was no superhero, nor did he hide his head in the sand. He was human like us. He experienced fear, cried until his pillow was soaked with tears, was vulnerable to temptation, and experienced many sorrows during his lifetime. But he also had a deep, abiding faith in God. Thus, he was able to praise God, not just when life was good but at all times.
We tend to think of praise as a response to a feeling of joy or gratefulness. We view praise as an activity we perform at church or during our morning devotions. Yet praise is much more than a feeling or an activity. It is a lifestyle. When we are in constant communion with God, praise should automatically flow from our mouths and our thoughts. When we see a beautiful sunrise or watch a bird soar across the sky, our response should be, “How wondrous are your works, Lord!” When small victories are won, we ought to shout a heartfelt “Thank you, Lord!”
Praise is a choice; when we deliberately choose to praise our way through problems, we displace worry and fear and make room for peace and joy to fully indwell our minds and hearts.
So praise Him today, tomorrow, and at all times! It will change your life.
Thought: “The greater your knowledge of the goodness and grace of God on your life, the more likely you are to praise Him in the storm.” – Matt Chandler