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David has just spent 20 verses talking about how he feels abandoned by God. Seriously, he goes on and on about it. David is depressed and in despair. It is worth reading to put this in context. He starts out by saying “God, God . . . my God! Why did you dump me miles from nowhere? Doubled up with pain, I call to God all the day long. No answer. Nothing. I keep at it all night, tossing and turning.” Not only is he depressed, he is whining about it to God.

Here’s the story I’ll tell my friends when they come to worship, and punctuate it with Hallelujahs: God has never let you down, never looked the other way when we were being kicked around. God has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.” ~King David

Source: Psalm 22:22-24 (The Message)

Suddenly David shifts dramatically. David is determined to speak the truth to his friends. He is not going to whine and complain. David is going to say proudly that God has never let us down. And that is the truth, no matter how I feel. My feelings have nothing to do with God. God is God.

In worship with others, David has discovered the secret to happiness. Praise God and be thankful. No matter what.

Here in this great gathering for worship I have discovered this praise-life. And I’ll do what I promised right here in front of the God-worshipers.” (Verse 25)

The words of my best friend and dad ring out. Asked how he is doing, with enthusiasm my friend always says “Never had a better day in my life.” And my dad would say “I got up this morning. It’s a good day!”

If I can think it and then say it, it makes it real. The saying of it reinforces my thinking. I need to change my mind (aka repent). Jesus challenges me to think differently about our Father in heaven. But beyond think it, I need to say it and worship God. I need to punctuate it with Hallelujahs.

God knows what I need and what is important. God will take care of me. Jesus reminds me:

If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.