Faith under fire can be an easier thing to come by than faith in plenty. How easily we forget that we owe everything to God, from the clothes on our backs to the food on our table.

When sorrow strikes, or pain, or fear, it can be so plain that we should reach out to beg for His help. When the good times roll around, when we find ourselves at peace, or with space in our schedules, it can be easier to just keep on rolling.

How can we make the most of good times in our relationship with God?

Let us look to the man who walked through the valley of the shadow of death and who danced in the streets when he came home from war: King David. There are at least 3 distinct practices he used which we may imitate in our own times of peace, patterns you can find during your own study of the psalms.

1. After victory was attained against Abimelech, David takes his time to be grateful:

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!” (Ps. 34:1–3).

2. David recalls true history of what God has done:

“I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment” (Ps. 9:1–4).

3. David takes time to contemplate God and how God will affect the rest of his life.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Ps.103:2–5).

Sister, I encourage you to practice these 3 things during times of peace and prosperity: find gratitude in the Lord, find God’s hand in your history, and find His character as a fortification of your faith in times to come. After all, “He is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 18:30).

Advertisement