A Prayer to Taste and See the Lord’s Goodness
By Tiffany Thibault
“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who trusts in Him.” - Psalm 34:8
There is something special about attending an event where just appetizers are served. Each one is uniquely displayed, a visual treat that promises a special culinary experience. Guests carefully choose the ones that catch their eye, that promise to satisfy. Those who choose to pass by and not taste the treats will never know how good they were or know what they're missing.
Our Bible verse says in Psalm 34:8 - “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
Our verse tells us to taste. The word taste in Hebrew is “ta’am” which means to perceive - an action word. How silly it would be to put appetizers on our plates and never taste them. When we eat our food we hold it, sample it, chew then swallow it, allowing all the flavors to cross over every taste bud, telling our brains exactly what it is that we are tasting. What if we were to approach our time in the Bible this way, with pleasure and enjoyment?
Our verse tells us to see. The word 'see' in Hebrew is “ra’ah”. This word tells us to intently look at, to study. It is not just being an observer; it is actively choosing and learning. Just as no one puts appetizers on their plate to simply look at, our Bible should be studied as something we desperately need.
This verse: “taste and see that the Lord Is good” is an opportunity to know that truth for ourselves. Unless you pick up that appetizer off your plate and taste it, you will never know if it is good. This verse is an invitation to experience Him, to savor Him, to choose Him as we learn to taste and see that the Lord is good. We must know it for ourselves. This entire Psalm 34 tells of God’s goodness to those who take refuge in Him. It says He cares for our every need, He provides us with a good and long life, He is with us in our troubles and He saves us from our enemies. He is provider, protector, sustainer, healer, our peace, our hope, our salvation. The Lord can be trusted with your heartaches and every one of your struggles. He desires that we experience Him fully and that requires action on our part.
The second half of our verse says this: blessed is the one who trusts in Him.
The word 'trust' in Hebrew means “to flee for protection; to confide in.” To trust in the Lord means to run to God for protection and to confide in Him. To “trust” means we must place our hearts and every situation into God’s capable plans. He alone is our answer and our protection. Let’s taste and see that the Lord is good. Let’s trust in Him and seek Him for help in all our troubles. Our verse gives us a promise that as we actively look to Him, we can trust Him. That promise is found in the word “blessed.” Strong’s concordance says that the word blessed means “happy”. So this Bible verse actually says:
Taste and see that the Lord is good; Happy is the one who trusts in Him.
This verse tells us that we can trust God for our happiness. When we intentionally taste and savor the Lord’s Word, we will see His goodness in every area of our lives. It will revive our souls, strengthen our faith, and allow us to face our most difficult situations.
All those hard things, the trials that drain you, the pain that is wearing you down, we can take heart because the Lord is good. He asks you to come, to taste His Word, to see He is good. He helped us in the past because He is good. He is working in your life today even if you cannot see it, because He is good. Allow His joy to fill your beautiful soul. Let the happiness He fills you with, be the reason that others turn to Him.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord,
Thank You for being good. Thank You for the promise that I can be happy as I trust You. Open my eyes Lord as I read Your Word and think about Your goodness in my circumstances. Help me to taste Your truth and see how You are working in my life. May my life and the joy you fill me with, encourage those around me to taste and see that You are good.
In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, Amen
Photo credit: ©Salem Design/Bethany Pyle
Tiffany Thibault is a Jesus-loving desert girl. She loves to spend time with her college-aged daughters, coffee with friends and taking long walks. She teaches 4th grade and loves to write in her spare time. She is the author of a Bible study and a devotional book. You can connect with her on Instagram.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
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