Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws.
This week, we’re on a journey to discover how King David, while he was at the lowest point in his life, strengthened himself in the Lord (1 Samuel 30:6 NKJV).
We know that David understood the importance of praising God. In Psalms 119:164 NIV he said:
Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws.I wonder what David’s praise would’ve looked like. Would he sing at the top of his lungs while playing his harp? Would he dance in his inner room the same way he dances in front of the ark (2 Samuel 6:14)?
Although I’m a worship leader, my favourite place to worship God is surprisingly not on a stage or in a studio. It’s in the car. I love going on a drive alone, turning the volume all the way up and belting along with my favourite praise songs.
I don’t just do this when I’m happy or in a “praise-mood”, but I’ve learned to do this especially when I’m down or frustrated. At the start, it might not feel genuine when I’m singing words my heart doesn’t feel in that moment. But I’ve learned that praise can shift the atmosphere, and that when I commit, my heart and spirit will eventually align.
David demonstrates this concept when he tells his own soul:
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. – Psalms 103:1 NIV
Today’s key: go from complaints to praise.
David knew that worship is not a state of mind; it’s a discipline. Praise is not an emotion; it’s a choice. Singing is an action, not a reaction.
Like David, tell your own soul to praise God today. Whether you feel like it or not! I promise, something will shift inside of you.
