THIS IS THE WAY TO START OUR DAY!

READ PSALM 34

DOES YOUR LIFE INVITE OTHERS TO WORSHIP?

PSALM 34

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

let the humble hear and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

and let us exalt his name together!

4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them. 

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,

for those who fear him have no lack!

10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;

but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Our lives should be filled with praise. If we read these verses at the start of every day, we will be reminded of God’s providential goodness, and be moved to praise Him. David is not only expressing his praise to the Lord, but is also inviting others of humble heart to join him in praise and worship.

The humble are those who recognize the hand of God and realize that in their own power, they are helpless. They know they are completely dependent on God, and are satisfied in His care.

We should ask ourselves if our lives are continually expressing our praise to God and if we are truly inviting others to join us in this praise.

One of the greatest examples of praising believers who invited others to know and worship God is found in Acts, when Paul was in prison.

Acts 16:25-32

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

What a testimony! In the worst of times, Paul and Silas were faithful to God. Even when imprisoned by the hands of the ungodly, they knew that it was under the direction of the sovereignty of God.

As we read in the psalm, David had gone through a hard time, and when he prayed, God had answered him. He knew that the Lord was watching and protecting His own. There is such peace for those who live with an awareness of God’s presence and love. God is always at work, but we can lose sight of this truth. How grateful we are, for this reminder of God’s goodness.

Read verses 8 through 10 carefully… there is great blessing for those who take refuge in God. Placing yourself in God’s hands does not mean that God will do all things according to your will, but that you are confident that all that He will do, will be good!

We need to learn to let God define what is good for us. Often we let the world or our own desires define what is good, and then we become discontent. Our unhappiness turns into ingratitude, which turns into complaining. That path leads us to sin.

The worship in this psalm is the response of a man in whom God was working, through His Word. David had learned about God’s character, he had learned to thoroughly trust in it, and this trust had produced godly results.

Dear friends, why is it so important to begin our day with God’s Word? Not because we will receive some special blessing by God, but because it informs our minds, it transforms our hearts, it prepares us for the difficulties of life, and it produces worship.

Invite someone to join you today in grateful praise and worship. Lead them to the Scriptures. David knew that his invitation to others needed to be by example, as well as by audible praise. May our lives invite others to worship the Lord God, because He is good!