Rev. Michael D. Jacobs

Psalm 34:1 – 3

When Should I Praise God? 

I looked at the water in our basement that was about six inches deep and I looked at the old hot water heater that had not been taken out to the trash after the first flood a month earlier. This was the fourth time there had been water in the basement during a summer season of severe heat punctuated by severe thunderstorms. My question to God that morning was, “What are you trying to show us or teach us God?” “Open our eyes, our ears and our minds, so that we can see, hear and understand what you are trying to tell us.” It was a summer that not only included severe weather but it also was a summer where we were trying to weather the storm of unemployment as my wife fell victim to joblessness.

Later that day I remembered something that our Pastor Emeritus, the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. used to always say. “There are only two times to praise God. When you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it!” I will be honest I did not think about his statement that morning but I did look at the blessings that I did have in spite of my frustration.

David in Psalm 34:1-3 gives a similar answer to my question which mirrors Pastor Emeritus Wright’s statement. “David says 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: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” David was hiding in a cave after acting like a crazy man to get away from King Abimelech. He is not hiding alone, so he not only is praising God in spite of his situation to help himself but he wants those with him to be encouraged as well. So he continues, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” My point beloved, is that whether you are in a cave hiding from your enemies or you are standing in shin deep water in your basement, God can still be praised because God will see you through the storms of life.

Prayer 

God grant me the ability to praise You even in the midst of struggle. Help me to count my blessings and not to dwell on the negative. Help me not to let praise be limited by my feelings.

Thought for the day 

Praise God when you feel like it and praise God when you don’t feel like it.