Psalm 18:2,  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”

David was rejoicing in this Psalm ~ God had delivered him from King Saul who was trying to kill him for no reason other than jealousy.  The wonderful thing about David though is that no matter where he was in life and no matter what else He was asking God for, he continuously praised God.  He praised God through the hard times, through times of God’s discipline, when he was crying out to God to rescue him.  No matter what, David always included praise!

I fear that we have gotten away from that.  Too often people seem to believe that things have to be going right in their lives in order to praise God and that’s not how it is supposed to be.  God is still God!  He is holy and righteous.  He is the God who sees and brings deliverance and judgment and He loves us beyond measure!  He shows us way more mercy and grace than anyone could ever deserve and He deserves our praise continuously!  He is worthy of all of our praise in all of our days.  If for some reason you are angry with God I would like to suggest that you try turning on some praise and worship music and just listen to the words for a few minutes.  Go ahead and let yourself cry.  Go ahead and let yourself pour your heart out to God about the injustice of your situation and ask Him to bring justice, bring healing to your heart, to deliver you and your loved ones.  There are heartaches that I know will not be totally healed more than likely while you are on this earth.  The loss of a loved one is the toughest, whether you have lost them to death or distance of heart, it can be overwhelming.  The heartaches from those things are overwhelming, but God still wants to be there for you.  He wants to heal your heart and walk with you through it all, don’t push Him away.

David found strength in praise.  He clearly was praising God even as a child while he was out in the fields watching the sheep.  He had a heart for praise and I believe that is why he was a man after God’s own heart.  God was ever at the forefront of David’s mind.  Read about him and you will see that he was constantly going to God about everything.  No, he wasn’t perfect but his heart was God’s and He recognized God for who He is!

Maybe you don’t feel like hearing music or singing today but you can read it.  Take a moment and read a Psalm, pick one, and allow the words about who your God is just soak into your heart.  God’s answers are often found in the praise of who He is!  

Maybe you are in a mode of praise today ~ who could you boost by sending them a note or a text of encouragement?  We have really gotten away from note-sending and notes are so uplifting.   Take a moment and share some praise of who God is with someone who could use the encouraging word today.  

Regardless of where you are today, I would like to encourage you to ask God to give you a heart of praise for who He is.  He loves you and He wants to be your “rock, your fortress, your deliverer, your strength, the one you can trust, your salvation, and your stronghold!”  Trust Him!  Pour your heart out, throw in your praise, and allow Him to show up mighty in your life!