Do you, when you are in trouble, do many other things except pray?

Today, Psalm 34 reminds us to pray. David, who wrote Psalm 34 (after a great escape from his enemies) says, "this poor man called and the Lord heard him" (v 6); ... "they (just) call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress," (v 17). Note the progression - we call upon the Lord through our prayers, and the Lord hears us and rescues us.

When we go to God in prayer, God sees us and God hears us - as David says, "the Lord turns His eyes to the just and His ears to their appeal" (v 15).

No matter how impossible our life-situation has become, remember, "the Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed He will save," (v 18). In as far back as the days of David, and still is today, it will always be difficult to live with integrity and to walk in righteousness. So let us let David's words encourage us when he says, "many are the trials of the just person but from them all the Lord will rescue him," (v 19).

As we endeavour to connect more with God in prayer, we will certainly "taste and see that the Lord is good," (v 8). We will also come to realise that as we seek refuge in God, we will be blessed (v 8).