Episode 95

This week’s episode centers on the Bible verses that fall in between the ones I read last week from Psalm 34. If you missed that episode, it’s OK to listen out of sequence. The promises are connected, but you can catch up with Episode 94 after you listen to this one. The verse I’ll read today from Psalm 34:4-7 fall right after David writes about extoling the Lord at ALL times (i.e., good times, bad times and so-so times). These verses come right before David writes about God’s faithfulness to carry us through our seasons of lack. The message for us in these in-between verses is this: Being needy shouldn’t bring fear and shame; being needy should bring joy! That’s because it’s in our seasons of neediness that God shows up in dramatic ways to help us. God wants to free us from the fear of not having our needs met. Gods wants to free us from the shame of exposing our neediness. God wants to free us from blaming ourselves and others for our troubles. He welcomes our desperate prayers. He listens to our cries for help. He saves us from our troubles. No wonder David wrote Psalm 34:5, “Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” I encourage you to look to God. He has promised to surround you and defend you. With him as your protector and defender, your reasons to feel fear or shame will dissipate as you radiate with joy. Don’t be ashamed of your neediness, my friend. Be filled with expectation of how God will show up in response to your desperate cries for help. This week's scripture: Psalm 34:4-7 Discover the healing power of Psalm 139 in my book, Longing to Belong: Discovering the Joy of Acceptance. Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart.com, Booksamillion.com and Christianbook.com. Also available as an audiobook from Audible, and as a digital download to your Kindle or from the Apple store for your iBooks app. Take the 10-day journey with me and let Scripture heal your heart. Look for the Longing to Belong Reading Plan on your mobile device via the YouVersion Bible app.