Early this morning, I heard a beautiful melody playing in the house. It was our 15-year-old son, Kedar, playing the keyboard in his bedroom. I smiled as I listened. He’s just beginning, but his progress has been great.

He loves listening to worship music and trying to learn the chord progressions by ear. I have been praying that the Lord will bless his efforts and that Kedar will play skillfully before Him as David did.

David played the lyre, and he worshiped God in song. One of my all-time favorite verses from one of David’s songs is found in Psalm 34:1. It says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

I especially appreciate the words because of the history surrounding this beautiful song of praise. The background story is in 1 Samuel 21. David wrote this when he was on the run from Saul, the relentless, jealous king, who had his heart set on annihilating his future successor.

While David was a fugitive, he was hungry and desperate, and had to do whatever he could to survive. God promised he would be the next king, but nothing in his present gave any indication that a word of that was true.

One of David’s most famous survival tactics during his time on the run is found in 1 Samuel 21:13. He was feigning insanity, acting erratically, and drooling all over himself to conceal his identity.

Yikes!

Still, despite the difficult nature of the test, David kept a praise on his lips and a song in his heart. He took a hard stance of faith through the process and decided, while I’m on the run, I will bless the Lord; when the prophecy looks like it’s not coming to pass, I will bless the Lord; when my enemies pursue me, I will bless the Lord; when I’m hungry, I will bless the Lord; when times get harder than I ever imagined they would be, I will bless the Lord.

My mind wanders over to Psalm 43:5 NIV, which says, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Friend, take on that attitude while you’re going through this. Refuse to allow anything to steal your praise. Lift up your head. Keep your heart full of gratitude. Know that you will see God work. But before you do, praise Him anyway.

In your season of lack, say I will yet praise.

When you’re sick in your body, say I will yet praise.

When there’s no money in the bank, say I will yet praise.

If there’s no food on the table, say I will yet praise.

When the prayer request has not been answered, say I will yet praise.

As you praise, God will provide. He will show up in your situation. He will make a way and open a door. He will bless you. And just as you have seen the hand of God at work in your life in the past, you will see Him move again.

Declare to yourself, I will see God work.

To remind you to praise in the middle of all of this knowing that the God who has done it before will do it again, I’m stirring Deuteronomy 10:21 NIV into your cup of inspiration, which says, “He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, even though things aren’t perfect and you may have unanswered requests still before the Lord, bless His name while you wait. Our God is ever true and faithful to perform His word.

Amen?

You will see Him work. You will see His favor. You will see Him do what only He can!

Now let’s pray.

God, despite the mountain I see before me, I know that my faith in Your power will force this mountain to move. So I place my confidence in You today. And no matter what comes my way, I know You won’t fail me, and I wholeheartedly believe I will see You work. Thank You in advance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!

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