11 March 2021 - I will praise the Lord at all times

Psalm 34:1-6 (NLT) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.

This psalm is titled A Psalm of David when he pretended madness before Abimelech, who drove him away, and he departed. David was running from Saul, just to find himself in another situation. David went to the Philistine city of Gath but found no refuge there and narrowly escaped.

1 Samuel 21:10 (NKJV) “Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.”

How many times do we face problems and situations that we are running from just to find ourselves in another situation? This was the case with David. He was on the run for his life. He thought that he was fleeing to a place of safety, just to find himself in a worse situation.

When reading this Psalm something strikes me, in his threating situation, David says, “I will praise the Lord at all times, I will constantly speak of praises”

For a moment ask yourself who is in control of your life? Who is in your driver’s seat? Are you going to allow the circumstance to control your life, always blaming others for what is happing in your life? Blaming your past for what you are, blaming the present situation, the economically situation, blaming the Corona Virus, corruption, and we can go on and on. Because of the past, because of the current situation there is no future. Some would say there is no future in our country, we are not going to make it. Well, it seems to me that many people allowed their circumstances to be in their driver’s seat. No, take hold of your circumstances. Do not allow your circumstance to take hold of you.

David never allowed his situation to take hold of him. In these difficult situations he says, Psalm 34:1 (MSG) I bless God every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise. 2 I live and breathe God; if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy: 3 Join me in spreading the news; together let’s get the word out. 4 God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. 5 Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him. 6 When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot. 7 God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. 8 “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him.”

While David was running from his enemies, fighting for his life, hiding in a cave, he did not blame the circumstances, instead, he ran to God.

Psalm 37:4-6 (NKJV) “Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. 6 He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday.

Today decided to always praise the Lord. Constantly speak his praises.