Words of Faith: To change your feelings, change your focus

“I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord...O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psalms 34:1-3).

David was a man who knew even from his youth how to give praise to his God. Over and over again we read in the Psalms beautiful expressions of praise and adoration to the Lord.

This is the month of Thanksgiving and as we look at David’s life we can also learn how to have a heart of thankfulness and praise. Let’s learn from him in these words from our text for today.

First of all we see that real praise begins with your will. Listen, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” Praise is not just an impulse; It’s a decision. Regardless of the circumstances you’re in at any given time, God is worthy of our praise. In another place, David took himself by the nape of the neck and said, “Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.”

Even the word Hallelujah is a command. Yes, it’s an expression of worship, but it’s more. It’s an order to start praising the Lord. Next we learn that praise will stir your emotions. Listen: “My soul (emotions) shall make her boast in the Lord.” David praises the Lord because He wills it. Then he praises the Lord because he wants to. That’s the way it works.

If you want to change your feelings, change your focus. Before it was over David was singing, “The Lord redeems the soul of his servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” (Psalms 34:22)

Finally, real praise will spread to others. Listen: “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalms 34:3). Praise is contagious. It will change the atmosphere around you. It will even rub off on others. When you get together with people of praise, the atmosphere will give way to delight, and you’ll find yourself lifted to a realm of joy you never knew. You can speak, shout or sing it. You can clap your hands, raise them, or play instruments. You can stand, kneel, or even dance.

Read the 150th Psalm and you will be encouraged today. It ends by saying, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

If you’re reading this, you are breathing. Then let us praise Him, not just at Thanksgiving, but every hour of every day.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 5:24 PM with the headline "Words of Faith: To change your feelings, change your focus."