A couple of weeks ago my pastor was teaching through Psalm 34, and as he was teaching I started to think about David’s words…
1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
his praise will always be on my lips.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3 Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.
let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
he delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
their faces are never covered with shame.
6 This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
he saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
and he delivers them.
I began to think about the storms that have come and gone in my life, and how God brought me and my family through. We have faced the death of friends and family, difficult pregnancies, tough financial situations, including job loss, giving up our home to foreclosure, and bankruptcy. Through each of these situations I’ve been drawn closer to God. I’ve learned to praise Him in the storms of life, but I’m not perfect in this, I still catch myself worrying when I should be trusting Him, and complaining instead of praising Him. But as David continues to write…
8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
9 Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12 Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
and desires to see many good days,
13 keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.
and your lips from speaking lies.
14 Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
seek peace and pursue it.
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16 the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
20 he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The LORD redeems his servants;
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
All of us have been through one storm or another. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, illness, broken marriage, divorce, job loss, financial trouble, foreclosure, bankruptcy, persecution; God is there with us during our storms, and He will see us through. I know because He has been with my family and me as we have weathered the storms that have come into our life; and He will be there for you.
I have learned to Praise him during the storms in my life, and so can you. So continue to praise Him, Praise the one from whom all blessings flow. Praise the one who created you. Praise the one who saw the storm coming and is ready and waiting to bring you through.
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