"I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Psalm 34:1
A man was going through some difficult days. Each new day seemed to bring more bad news. How much more could he stand? He often prayed, but things seemed to get no better. Someone gave him a booklet on the subject of praising God. The author taught that we should praise God through all of our problems. The man had thought that praise was reserved only for the good days of life. The author challenged the reader to praise God by faith in the midst of life's problems.
God brings good out of our problems. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Praise is an expression of faith in God's goodness through all of our problems.
Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison for their faith in Christ (Acts 16). They continued to praise God in song and prayer. As a result, God set them free, and a guard in the prison asked how he could become a Christian. That man committed his life to Christ. Paul and Silas provided an example of praising God at all times.
Praise has been defined as the language of heaven. The angels always praise God. The redeemed of the ages praise God in heaven. Praise releases all of our problems to God, knowing that He is at work through them to show His goodness. Because God is good all the time, His praise should continually be in our mouths, praising God always. The power of praise is the power of God at work in our lives.
We praise You, O God, because You are good all the time. We bless Your name.
