I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
This passage begins with words of resolve. I will. Even when I don’t feel like it. I know that God is good and I will praise him at all times! David wrote this Psalm in the midst of running away from Saul. He had just been in a Philistine territory (Isreal’s enemies… David had killed their prize fighter recently!) and escaped by acting like a madman. Scary times! He’s still on the run from Saul, but he is choosing to see the little victories and deliverances along the way and praising God for them and remembering who God is and what he’s done!
I have struggled with fear all of my life, but it was after giving birth to my youngest that I experienced some pretty rough post-partum anxiety. This Psalm was such a huge comfort to me reminding me of the importance of praising the Lord no matter what and of trusting him to be my deliverer! God brought me through those dark days and though I still struggle with anxiety, I have learned the importance of praising Him and looking for and remembering all the little (and big) times of deliverance in my life!
Father, I praise you and thank you for who you are and for what you’ve done in my life! Life can be hard and scary! But I know that you are with me and that you will continue to deliver me from all my fears! Help me to trust you and to praise you no matter what!
– Lisa Staggs
Deep Waters: An LCC Devotional 