January 26
Peace
Through Adoration
Psalm 34:1
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will continually be in my mouth.
Daily Steps
The ultimate act of thankfulness is adoration—a continuous, conscious choice to magnify God above all else. This verse is not about a feeling; it is a declaration of intent: "I will extol the Lord at all times."
The power of making God's praise "continually be in my mouth" is that it leaves no room for the language of worry and fear.
When your internal monologue is filled with expressions of gratitude and adoration for God's goodness, you are consciously displacing the anxious, negative thoughts that try to steal your peace.
For a new believer, understanding this is key: you don't fight anxiety by simply willing it away; you replace it with something more powerful. Adoration of God—thanking Him for who He is—is the most effective replacement strategy.
It ensures that your mind is fixed on the unchanging greatness of God rather than the shifting difficulty of your circumstances.
Reflective Question
What time of day is your worry the strongest (morning, evening, before a task)? How can you use the first few minutes of that time to "extol the Lord" and fill your mouth with praise instead?
Prayer
Lord, I want Your praise to continually be in my mouth. Forgive me for allowing worry to dominate my thoughts. Today, I choose to extol Your name and magnify Your greatness above my problems.
Fill my heart with adoration so that there is no room left for fear, and ground my soul in Your perfect peace. Amen.
