I am constantly looking for inspiration. I love finding inspirational quotes, workout inspiration, wedding inspiration and simply inspiration for day-to-day life. Not to sound cliché or anything, but one thing that truly does inspire me is the most is the Bible. Tonight I was reading in bed and was so encouraged by Psalm 34 that I had to share. This chapter speaks about how everything we do should “bless the Lord” and that through us “bless[ing] the Lord” we are also drawing others near to Him (which, isn’t that our main goal in life? To lead others to Christ?). Enough of me talking, I’ve pasted the book below. It is short, easy to understand and simply inspiring.

Psalm 34

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall be continually in my mouth

2My soul will boast in the LORD; 
   let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 
³ Glorify the LORD with me; 
   let us exalt his name together.

 ⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me; 
   he delivered me from all my fears. 
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant; 
   their faces are never covered with shame. 
⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; 
   he saved him out of all his troubles. 
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, 
   and he delivers them.

 ⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good; 
   blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. 
⁹ Fear the LORD, you his saints, 
   for those who fear him lack nothing. 
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry, 
   but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

 ¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me; 
   I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 
¹² Whoever of you loves life 
   and desires to see many good days, 
¹³ keep your tongue from evil 
   and your lips from speaking lies. 
¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good; 
   seek peace and pursue it.

 ¹⁵ The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous 
   and his ears are attentive to their cry; 
¹⁶ the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, 
   to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

 ¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; 
   he delivers them from all their troubles. 
¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted 
   and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 ¹⁹ A righteous man may have many troubles, 
   but the LORD delivers him from them all; 
²⁰ he protects all his bones, 
   not one of them will be broken.

 ²¹ Evil will slay the wicked; 
   the foes of the righteous will be condemned. 
²² The LORD redeems his servants; 
   no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

Do you not simply love verse 5 where David writes about people who are close with the Lord radiate?  I have a few friends who are filled with this radiance and every time I see them I yearn to have that same glow.

 

 

This chapter also brings up have no fears. Could you imagine being fearless? Could you imagine fearing nothing but the Lord’s opinion?

 

 

Verse 9 even says “you saints,” as in I am a saint… I always think of saints as being these untouchable, holy beings that only lived in the past or is a modern pope but this verse tells me otherwise. God makes me holy.

After reading this chapter, don’t you feel inspired?
Let’s make it our goal to be intentional about inspiring each other.