"God is delivering us from our weaknesses and our obstacles and is sending in His own warriors to deliver the victory we need." Kathy Spampinato

Today, what is on my heart, is a contemplation of Psalm 34. Its words are an encouragement to me, and an admonition to walk by faith. My day-to-day existence is not just in completing a list of tasks, getting things done, but in choosing to live above the discouraging circumstances, and choosing a walk of faith in the God who loves me. Why don’t you join me?

Psalm 34:1-2 ESV “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord: let the humble hear and be glad.”

It starts with a reminder to be conscious of God’s goodness as I go about my day. My heart should be overflowing with praise continually. I can invite the Holy Spirit to walk with me, and talk with me today. If His praise is in my heart, it has more chance of being in my mouth continually. I can choose to boast in who He is and all that He’s done in my life, instead of focusing on what is happening around me. I can focus on God’s walking alongside me, guiding me through the circumstances.

Verses 3-4 “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

We can team up in this walk of faith, sharing what God is doing, and building a fellowship of deep compassion and understanding. When we let others into our prayer requests and the yearnings of our hearts, we build a community of trust and hope. Then, when our prayer is answered we rejoice together. When God delivers you from all your fears it is time to celebrate!

Verse 5-6 “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved his out of all his troubles.”

When we receive an answered prayer or a victory in our lives, joy fills our hearts, and our faces reflect it. We share about the transformation that God has done, and in the telling we release abundant life. We also build up the faith of others. Telling our story encourages others to believe God for victory, and reminds us that God is indeed a very present help in times of need. We can put our trust in Him because He is faithful!

Verse 7-8 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

There is so much hope in these verses. God commissions angels to help bring us victory. He is delivering us from our weaknesses and our obstacles and is sending in His own warriors to deliver the victory we need. If we take refuge in God and make Him our source of life and strength, He will not disappoint. We will be blessed and see His provision. We will lack no good thing!

Verses 9-12 “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?”

The fear spoken of here is not a fear of what God will do to us in retribution for our failure. It is an awesome respect and acknowledgement of how big and powerful our God is. It is a knowing that He is almighty and so much greater than we are, but yet His love surrounds us. The fear of the Lord spurs us on. Our hearts desire is now to glorify Him and not ourselves. The next few verses give us hints in how to guard our ways so that we are pleasing God and walking in the truth.

Verses 13-17 “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.”

I think these verses tell us that God is glorified when we walk in His ways and seek peace with others. We are then, the object of Gods eyes and ears. We have His attention when we walk in His ways because we reflect His glory in the earth. When we cry for help, He is there! I see an acknowledgement that there are also those who do evil, but the Lord does not want them to influence others by their behavior. He is patient and longsuffering, wanting them to come to salvation, but ultimately, He will oppose evil, not wanting it to spread.

Verses 18-21 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Affliction will slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.”

The Lord is our protector, and our strong tower. Let’s run to Him in our need for strength and perseverance when faced with difficulty. When we are brokenhearted and crushed, He is there. He is on our side. We finish with an admonition to trust and lean on the Lord. He is the redeemer. Let’s turn to Him today!

Verse 22 “The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”