“I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
Psalm 34:1
A friend gave me some good advice during a particularly rough week. She encouraged me in the middle of a chaotic situation to focus on my own choices and attitude. I could do nothing about the responses of other people or the timing of the situation. But I could choose how I would act and react.
The context of Psalm 34 finds David hiding in a cave, literally running for his life. He didn’t wait for things to get better before he praised God. He made the choice to “bless the Lord at all times” instead of waiting to feel motivated to worship.
Your “at all times” includes the days of no job or paycheck, the years of declining health, the ongoing strained relationships, the moments of loneliness. See what happens when you make the conscious effort to worship. Your acknowledgement of who God is will direct your thoughts and win the battle in your mind. It can feel like a true “sacrifice of praise” (see Hebrews 13:15) when it’s the last thing you feel like doing. But that act of worship keeps your heart from being hardened in the face of the difficulties.
The context of Psalm 34 finds David hiding in a cave, literally running for his life. He didn’t wait for things to get better before he praised God. He made the choice to “bless the Lord at all times” instead of waiting to feel motivated to worship.
Your “at all times” includes the days of no job or paycheck, the years of declining health, the ongoing strained relationships, the moments of loneliness. See what happens when you make the conscious effort to worship. Your acknowledgement of who God is will direct your thoughts and win the battle in your mind. It can feel like a true “sacrifice of praise” (see Hebrews 13:15) when it’s the last thing you feel like doing. But that act of worship keeps your heart from being hardened in the face of the difficulties.
Scripture Focus
Psalm 34:1-5
Insight
“The central premise in worship is not what you feel like, but what God is worthy of. You worship [from] God’s promises, not your feelings.” (J.D. Greear, 2023)
Bible In A Year
- Job 13-14
- Psalm 49
- Luke 12