PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE

BY MATTHEW LITTLE

Praising God In The Pit

Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

The unbeliever may see the Christian’s approach to praise as farcical. After all, how can you “praise God” no matter what comes your way? Many respond that this unrealistic outlook on life is religious credo reserved for the delusional and deceptively naive. Can this be the case? Can praise be the interminable testimony of my life at all times? I must confess that Psalm 34:1 is not always the triumphant song flowing from my lips.

Perhaps the answer to this quandary is in another Psalm penned by David. In Psalm 138, David is speaking about God’s goodness and faithfulness when we read, “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You.” (verse 1). Here is a man who had trouble written all over the pages of his life and yet he is praising God. To praise God is to