Wednesday 29 May, 2013

1 I will thank the Lord at all times. My lips will always praise him. 2 I will honor the Lord. Let those who are hurting hear and be joyful. 3 Join me in giving glory to the Lord. Let us honor him together. 4 I looked to the Lord, and he answered me. He saved me from everything I was afraid of. 5 Those who look to him beam with joy. They are never put to shame. 6 This poor man called out, and the Lord heard him. He saved him out of all of his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord stands guard around those who have respect for him. And he saves them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who goes to him for safety. 9 You people of God, have respect for the Lord. Those who respect him have everything they need. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry. But those who look to the Lord have every good thing they need. 11 My children, come. Listen to me. I will teach you to have respect for the Lord. 12 Do you love life and want to see many good days? 13 Then keep your tongues from speaking evil. Keep your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil, and do good. Look for peace, and go after it. 15 The Lord looks with favor on those who are godly. His ears are open to their cry. 16 The Lord doesn’t look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth. 17 Godly people cry out, and the Lord hears them. He saves them from all of their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. 19 Anyone who does what is right may have many troubles. But the Lord saves him from all of them. 20 The Lord watches over all of his bones. Not one of them will be broken. 21 Sinners will be killed by their own evil. The enemies of godly people will be judged. 22 The Lord sets those who serve him free. No one who goes to him for safety will be judged.

Psalm 34 is a psalm of praise during difficult times. It’s easy to have the praises of God in our mouth when things are going well – not always so easy to have his praise “continually in our mouths” when times are tough.

There are many comforting verses in this Psalm about God rescuing us and saving us in our troubles as we reach out for Him.

If you are, like me, facing some challenging circumstances in your life, take time today to praise Him knowing that He has promised to deliver us out of every affliction. It’s so much easier to face something difficult when you know the story has a good ending!

Thank you God for your promise to rescue us from every affliction that we face. Help me to remember to keep praising You and trusting that in You, every story ends in victory!

Written by Shelley Witt