I. Prayerful Trust in God results in Praise that encourages others to Trust Him.

 1 I will extol/bless the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.
   2 My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
   3 Glorify/magnify the Lord with me; let us exalt (intensive and intentional) His name together.
   4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

A. Does our praise consist of pious powerless platitudes or specific answers to seeking God’s help and intervention?

B. In what do you boast?  Jer 9:24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me,  that I am the LORD, who exercises loyalty, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. Isa 66:4 below

C. Is trust in God incompatible with fears and “concerns”? For what are you concerned? For what are you seeking God? Phil 4

II. Those who Trust in God Radiate His Good blessings

5 Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
   6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
   7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers/saves them.
   8 Taste and see(drink deeply; consider/perceive) that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

A. How does one look to/seek God? (Pr 3:5-6) How does one take refuge in Him? How does one taste and experience His goodness?
 Dt 4:29 from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul

B. Seeking God’s will and face must be our top priority (Mt 6:33) Ps 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

C. Ps 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul to vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5  He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6  This is the generation of them that seek Him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

D. 2Ch 15:2 The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; 4 but when in their trouble they turned to the Lord God and sought Him, He was found by them. 7 But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!

III. Trust requires Fear of the Lord, which regulates our words, actions, and ambitions,* 

resulting in the good, abundant life  (*how will this look at the Judgment Seat? 2Cor 5:9-10)

9 Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing.
   10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
   11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
   12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
   13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
   14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

A. Ps 84:11 Lord God is a sun & shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly

B. If someone doesn’t fear God, what do they fear? If you think you’re lacking something good, what is the problem?
 Mal 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who honor/meditate/think upon on His name. 

C. What evil have you turned from? Exactly what good are you doing (for God)? How are you seeking and pursing peace?

IV.  The Righteous  God fearers and seekers  Triumph over Troubles

 15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their cry;
  16 the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
  17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
  18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 51; Isa 57:15)
  19 A righteous man may have many troubles, the Lord delivers him from them all;
  20 he protects all his bones,  not one of them will be broken.
  21 Evil will slay the wicked; foes of the righteous will be condemned.
  22 The Lord redeems His servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in Him.

A. Isa 66:4 So I will choose their delusions, and bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight. Jer 9:24

B. What should be our response to trials, difficulties, things not going as we wish? If God hears, why doesn’t He answer like we want?

C. How will you fear God, seek His goodness, pursue His delights, and experience His goodness this week? What’s the alternative?