Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth (Psalm 34:1 NRSV).

Praising God at all times requires an enormous amount of discipline. The “ALL” suggests that even when things are really bad, the onus should be on us to praise God. And there are valid reasons for developing an attitude of gratitude. Until you encounter the truth of God’s word and see with your natural eyes the things that are orchestrated through his divine favour, you will not understand why the psalmist makes such a statement.

Praise is a deliberate act of using your vocal cords to make a noise. In the current sporting climate many people are doing this to praise and worship eleven representatives of their country who are chasing after a small ball with the determination of getting it in the opponents net. Some are so passionate that they have saved up thousands of Pounds/Dollars/Francs or Euros to travel thousands of miles to offer up their praise and their worship to these demi-gods.

For us who follow Jesus, it is imperative that we develop the attitude to praise him continually.  This should be regardless of our circumstances. V.18 tells us that the Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed. Our God is a God of the oppressed, who delivers those who call to him in desperation when they have nowhere else to go.

Today, learn to praise him regardless until worship comes, and worship him until his glory is manifested in your situation. He will come in power.

Read Psalm 34.