December Week 3 “The Power of Praise: Continuously"

Hello and welcome to Week 3 of our December bible study series, focused on HOPE and JOY! I pray that you practiced conquering anxiety with prayer and thanksgiving from last week’s bible study.

Bible Study Week 3: 

"The Power of Praise: Continuously.

Scripture Focus:

Psalm 34:1 (NIV) - "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

As the Christmas season approaches, our emotional landscape can be unpredictable. Psalm 34:1 provides the anchor we need: it’s a commitment to praise God- not just when things are good, but at all times. Please understand, this is not forced happiness; it's a declaration of trust and a commitment to Jesus that establishes an atmosphere of spiritual victory along with your faith, regardless of your perceived circumstance. This week’s challenge from the word of God, focuses on establishing the habit of continual, fearless, and relentless praise.

Praise is a powerful choice that precedes our hope, joy and breakthrough. David, the writer of this Psalm, often wrote from positions of extreme duress, yet he still made the choice-  to bless the Lord. When we choose to praise God before our circumstances change, we are demonstrating unwavering trust in Him. It's a conscious decision that clearly expresses we believe God is greater than our problem, and that alone is worthy of our continual praise. This choice guarantees our spiritual alignment.

Breaking Down the Verse:

1. "I will bless the Lord at all times":

   • This is a personal covenant. When you say, “I”, you are acknowledging yourself.  "At all times" includes the bad times, the confusing times, the waiting times, and yes the good times. It’s a proactive, intentional decision, making praise a non-negotiable part of your daily life, independent of our emotional state. When David wrote Psalm 34 he had already  been anointed King by the prophet Samuel, however, Saul was still reigning as King and was actively trying to kill David. David had been living with huge issues and constantly in danger on the run.  David wrote Psalm 34 after one of the lowest and humiliating moments of his life. When he decided to say, “I will bless the Lord at all times”, he didn’t wait until things got better. He said it during a time of fear, survival, and embarrassment- prior to his deliverance. David was typically saying, even when I was afraid, desperate and in a horrible position, I trusted that God would still rescue me. So why should we bless the Lord at all times? Because God does not change. He is consistent in every way. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever”. If God is there with you up on the mountain top, he’ll also be with you down in the valley low.

2. "His praise shall continually be in my mouth.": “PRAISE doesn’t ignore pain, it reorders perspective”. “PRAISE recenters our hearts with joy and realigns our minds with his presence”. I once heard a preacher say, “When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that He’s done for me, my soul cries out Hallelujah, thank God for saving me. So your praise must be audible and active. And when praise is continual (not just reserved for Sunday morning), it creates a powerful spiritual atmosphere- no matter where you are; it pushes back against the negativity of this world and the fear that tries to creep in your mind. Our words and actions of praise are not just for God's benefit, they’re for our own benefit. PRAISE strengthens our trust, our focus, our reliance and shifts our will to God’s will. And that is what’s best for our lives. That’s a great place right there for a praise break!

Song for today: Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, blessed savior; He’s worthy to be praised!

Reflection Question:

What does your posture look like today? Is it prayer, praise and peace? Or is it anxiety and worry? Think about how you can commit to having God's praise in your mouth on a daily basis- even if life seems uncertain.

Trust Challenge of the Week:

Lets challenge ourselves to intentionally disrupt negative patterns and thoughts with words of thanksgiving to God. Let's do this together- Set three specific reminders on your phone (e.g., 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM). When the reminder goes off, stop immediately and, whether you feel like it or not, bless the Lord out loud for one specific thing. This doesn't have to be a big announcement; it can be whispered under your breath. But this small, consistent act will strengthen your spiritual muscle of praise and trust, growing your faith to another level. Try it, it’s a trust-back guarantee.

What's Next?

We will prepare for the Christmas holiday by focusing on our ultimate reason for joy and cultivating our peace, by keeping our minds focused on Jesus. (Isaiah 26:3) Until then, may your mouth be continually filled with praise as you Trust The King, no matter what.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come to You with grateful hearts. We choose to give you praise and thanksgiving even when things are uncertain. We praise You simply for who You are — a great, faithful, and loving God. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and Your constant presence in our lives. Bless everyone with this prayer, and guide them with peace, strength, and purpose through the remainder of this year and beyond. May everything we do bring You honor and glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Blessings, 

Trust The King Team

Tony Jackson

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