I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:1-7
Years ago, when I began writing these weekly devotionals, I titled the series: Focus on Faith.
My goal with each devotional was to provide a 3-5 minute reading that drew our attention toward our faith in Jesus and the Father who sent him.
It was born out of a need to provide something other than the constant onslaught of the world vying for our attention. A moment to look away from what the world wants us to look at and to focus on our faith instead.
Since I started, I have been particularly keen to notice phrases and teachings in the Bible that speak to the benefits that come into our lives when we focus on or meditate on God and His Word.
And today, I noticed a benefit I had never seen before. A most fascinating word that David chose in Psalm 34. And I’d like to focus our attention on it.
Psalm 34:5 promises, “Those who look to the LORD are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
When we focus our attention on God, when we offer Him the praise that He deserves, and when we look to Him for help, we become “radiant.”
Isn’t that a fascinating word? We become radiant.
Do you know what radiant means? I mean, other than a general sense of what the word means? I didn’t. So I looked it up.
Radiant means: Marked by or expressive of love, confidence, or happiness.
When you hear the definition, isn’t that so true of what happens when we look to God? And isn’t that something that sounds amazing?
Marked by love. That our face would express to others not only that we know we are loved, but that we genuinely love them.
Marked by confidence. That our face would display to others that we are secure in who we are because we know who holds and directs our life.
Marked by happiness. That our face would communicate every single day to a world desperate for joy that we have found a happiness richer and greater than anything this world can ever offer.
When we look to the definition, the word “radiant” makes perfect sense. This is exactly what happens to our face when we seek God and place our attention and affection on Him.
“Those who look to the LORD are radiant.” May that psalm be forever true of me. And may it be forever true of you.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, through Your Holy Spirit, draw my attention repeatedly to You. May Your praise forever be on my lips. May I look to You every day and at all times. And may Your radiance shine through me because of it. Amen.