Joel M Bradshaw

1I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
3Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!–Psalm 34

When you play sports, you have a move or a skill that you get good at. You make that your go-to move. Basketball players are famous for their moves, the dribbles, their signature shots. Baseball pitchers have their specialty pitches and that one pitch they became known for. Those skills they most likely had perfected after thousands and thousands of repetitions.

David today spoke of something you are to do at all times and in seasons. It never goes out of context. I remember golfing with my friend Glen and he kept pulling out of his golf bag a little 7 wood. I’d never seen that club before. Any difficult shot he had he used it. Another guy I played with couldn’t hit his woods to save his soul, but he stroked a nice 5 iron. So he hit that iron every shot. And he didn’t do that badly, if I recall!

So what’s your go-to move? Is it blessing God and praising him continually and at all times? Even when life stinks? Even when you don’t feel like it? Even when he answered your prayer NO? Boasting in God, staying humble and satisfied? Magnified God and exalting in his name or seeking your own brand?

These are meaning of life kind of things. You either are doing them or you are not. These are not things you can truly fake either way.

In little league, I was known as the chubby kid who hustled. I did my best and everyone knew it. I was the fattest kid on the team, but was awarded the hustle trophy. I focused on playing a mean first base. No thrown ball would get past me and the spiffy first-baseman’s glove my dad bought me. I never hit for power, but I was occasionally clutch. That’s what I was known for.

I also played a year of college football at nose tackle. All I seemed to do was absorb double teams. I recall a triple team once. I had my linebackers tell me a few times that it made their job easier.

In terms of my life, I am known for trusting God. I have learned to trust God having MS for half my life. Trust in God has become my move, my thing. I always trust God. I depend upon God. It’s my go-to move.

But these verses challenge us with our attitudes and responses. Do you bless God at all times? Is his praise in your mouth more than destructive words? Do you boast in God or in yourself? Are humility and satisfaction what you are known for? When it comes to God and life, what is your go-to move?–JMB