I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. —Psalm 34:1
Sometimes we have to praise God no matter how we feel or what we’re going through.
David understood this concept as few others in the Scripture. In Psalm 34, we find David in one of the darkest periods of his life. Years earlier he had received God’s promise that he was to be the next king, but the insecure egomaniac who occupied the throne was determined to take his life. So David found himself living as a fugitive in the wilderness, fleeing for his life. All the ingredients were there to set him up for a major depression. But instead, he made a choice—a choice to praise the Lord, regardless of his natural feelings.
When he decided to magnify the Lord instead of his circumstances, David’s heart was lifted, as were the hearts of others around him.
Praise isn’t a response to our circumstances, which constantly fluctuate. Praise is a response to the goodness and love of a God who never changes.
Make it Personal
Have you ever made the choice to praise God even though you may not have felt like it? What was the result?