Psalm 34: Taste and See God's Refuge and Hope

Have you tasted and seen that the lord is good? Have you experienced the presence of god? Have you tasted religion, or have you tasted the presence of god? Have you tasted church attendance, or have you tasted the presence of God? Have you tasted information, or have you tasted transformation that comes from the presence of God. [01:01:38] (33 seconds)  #TasteAndSeeGod

And so as mature believers, we learn that we praise God in and out of every season of our lives, the highs and the lows, the good, the bad, and the hard. Because what God did for us on Calvary was more than enough. Listen. If God never blessed you with anything else, he is still worthy of your praise because of what Jesus did for you on the cross. [00:42:56] (33 seconds)  #PraiseInEverySeason

And so David says, in the midst of running for his life, guys, I've experienced God's presence because in my time of trouble, I ran to him. I sought the Lord, and he answered, and he delivered me from all of my fears. And now he's saying to those of us who are reading his song, taste and see. In other words, you have to experience God's presence for yourself. Taste and see that the lord is good. [01:00:29] (29 seconds)  #ExperienceHisPresence

Sometimes the biggest prison that you and I live in is not the prison that's outside of us. It's the prison that lives inside of us. And fear keeps so many people trapped in that loop and in that circle of fear and anxiety and worry and stress and depression, and then it loops back again to fear and anxiety and stress and depression, and then it loops back again. [00:46:33] (29 seconds)  #BreakTheFearCycle

But see, mature Christians know how to praise god even when the answers don't come. Mature Christians know how to praise god before god's blessing comes. Mature Christians know how to praise God at all times because praising God isn't dependent upon your circumstances, and praising God isn't dependent on answered prayers. Praising God is dependent on character, God's character, and God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [00:42:20] (36 seconds)  #PraiseByFaith

Right? Because fear says, what if it doesn't work? What if it doesn't work? What if the treatment doesn't work? What if the medication doesn't work? What if the counseling doesn't work? What if my prayer doesn't work? What if I fail? What if we lose? What if they leave? What if I'm not enough? What if I get sick? What if something happens to my kids? What if my finances tank? What if I lose my job? What if I don't get that promotion? Right, man. I'm telling you, fear is exhausting. [00:47:34] (42 seconds)  #FearIsExhausting

And god says in that season of uncertainty, in that season, as we learned last week when life feels unstable, unstable and you and I learn to turn to God, you and I learn to seek his face, God is faithful, and he will remove. He's not gonna take away the problems. He's not gonna take away all your responsibilities. He's gonna take away the fear that keeps us trapped in that brutal cycle. [00:48:16] (29 seconds)  #GodRemovesFear

And David says, when you and I learn to seek the Lord, when you and I learn to run to God, not to distractions, not to sin, not to things that only bring temporary relief when you and I learn to seek the Lord in our times of trouble. When you and I learn to turn to God who is our refuge and our strength and an ever present help in trouble, he will deliver you from all your fears. [00:47:02] (32 seconds)  #RunToRefuge