I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are discouraged take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
Devotional Text
David tells us three things we must do to emerge victorious from troubles. First, he tells us to praise the Lord (Psalm 34:1). When we bless the Lord for all His benefits, boast in the Lord concerning His attributes, and exalt Him for His goodness, we are focusing on Him instead of our troubles. How easy it is, though, to let trouble take over our thinking to the point that we forget how great God is! Second, David tells us to seek the Lord (v. 4 KJV). To seek means “to inquire diligently,” or “to reach a place of desperation.” David knew this kind of desperate crying out to God and the results it brought: “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (v. 6 KJV). Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, Moses stretched out his rod, Peter put on his sandals . . . and God delivered from sickness, danger, and imprisonment! Finally, David said to reverence the Lord (v. 9). We must examine every area of our lives to be certain our giving, our words, and our relationships are in order. In this way, we honor God. When we praise the Lord, seek the Lord, and reverence the Lord, we will be delivered from all our troubles!