Real Help

1. Pray (verse 4).

   Psalm 34:4 begins, “I sought the Lord….” Your part is to pray and invite Him into your life. Be assured—He will hear you (1 John 5:14).

2. Trust God (verse 8).

   “Blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” Put the whole balance of your life, your security, in the Lord. Rely on the character, strength and ability of God to deliver you. Fear and unbelief, which are a lack of trust in God, will hinder or stop you from receiving God’s help.

3. Fear the Lord (verse 9).

   This does not mean to be afraid of Him, but to give Him honour and respect. Take whatever you find in the Word, knowing it is true, and put it into your life. When God speaks, quickly make changes or adjustments.

4. Seek the Lord with all your heart (verse 10).

   The primary way you seek the Lord is through His Word. Listen to His promptings when He speaks to your spirit. The counsel of God will deliver you out of trouble. God will protect you, keeping you safe from injury, harm and destruction. He will preserve you by instructing and teaching you, but you must make the effort to listen and learn. Trusting Him allows His mercy to surround you.

5. Don’t criticise and judge others (verse 13).

   There are two times to pray for a person—when he’s right and when he’s wrong. It is the Lord’s job, not yours, to “bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and…make manifest the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5). Your part is to “keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:13).

6. Depart from evil (verse 14).

   Psalm 34:14 says, “Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God. When sin calls your name, don’t respond to it. When God calls your name, be quick to respond.

7. Determine to do good (verse 14).

   Be like Jesus, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). Be busy doing good, praying and ministering to others.

8. Seek peace (verse 14).

   Don’t be the one who brings discord, quarrelling, fighting and strife. Instead, be the one who brings peace, calmness and harmony.

God’s power and deliverance are available for you, but they are not automatic. Receiving your deliverance is controlled by how you see God, how you listen to Him and how you obey Him. Come to a new place of faith, trusting God even when His wise counsel may appear to be foolishness. He is far smarter than you are. When you seek God, trust Him, hear His counsel and do what He tells you, He will bring you out of trouble, because there is nothing He doesn’t know how to handle.