“Blessed be the LORD, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my [impenetrable] shield; My heart trusts [with unwavering confidence] in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I shall thank Him and praise Him.”
Psalm 28:6–7 AMP

Have you ever watched someone so engaged in worship that it seems as if they are unaware of anyone else around them? Perhaps you have seen someone dancing before the Lord or falling to their knees in gratitude. Our verse today helps explain what is happening in moments like that.

The Psalmist declares, “The LORD is my strength and my impenetrable shield.” Those words strike deeply at the heart of my relationship with God. He is my strength.

Before surrendering my life to Christ, I was trying to be the strength of my own life. How did that work out? The ground beneath my feet felt unstable. Drugs and alcohol battered my life again and again, leaving behind failure and despair. The weakness I saw in myself drove me to the point of suicidal thoughts. I remember thinking, “I can’t continue living like this.” But God had not given up on me.

One night I found myself holding a Bible, reading about a God who died so that I could be free from the bondage of sin. I remember saying to God, “If this is true, then You need to help me. If not, I have no reason to live.”

That night God raised His mighty shield of protection over my life and began delivering me from addiction. Slowly I came to know and love this God who rescued me. Since that day my confidence has been in Him, not in myself. In another Psalm we read:

“The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14 AMP

Do you see it? Salvation means God is not only my strength — He becomes my song. When God freed me from my sin, I truly did sing a new song as loudly as I could.

Coming from a traditional church background, worship once meant sitting quietly and repeating familiar words. I was not accustomed to this kind of excitement about God. But when you truly experience His deliverance, praise begins to overflow.

Praise celebrates what God has done.
Worship responds to who God is.

Scripture reminds us:

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 AMP

This does not mean we approach God casually or carelessly. When people in Scripture encountered the presence of God, they often fell on their faces in awe and reverence. The confidence spoken of here is not casual familiarity — it is the confidence of being welcomed by the King of kings.

We remember the shame we felt as children when we had to confess wrongdoing to our parents. True repentance is more than simply saying, “I’m sorry.” It is a broken heart that realizes it has wounded someone who loves us. The prodigal son expressed that spirit when he returned home:

“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” Luke 15:21 AMP

The good news is that God forgives us. And the joy that comes from realizing what He has done for us often overflows in praise and worship. Yet Scripture also reminds us to approach Him with reverence:

“Do not be hasty with your mouth [speaking careless words or vows] or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter before God. For God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2 AMP

May we never lose the wonder of what God has done for us — and may our praise always be joined with reverence for the King we serve.

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Ken