Praise as Warfare
Greetings from the trenches. I am not sure what battle you are facing today, but I know you are facing one. We are all living in the middle of a war. One of our most powerful weapons is praise. Praise is a warfare strategy that has been winning wars throughout the ages.
2 Chronicles 20:22
"When they began singing and praising..." The Israelites used praise as God's appointed weapon for winning a tremendous victory. They had not even reached the battlefront when God acted and completely destroyed their three-fold enemy.
Acts 16:25-26
Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns. Suddenly a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. The prison doors flew open, and prisoners were set free because of praise.
Joshua 5:14, 15 and 6:2
Joshua bowed to worship, and God told him that Jericho was already in his hands. As the Israelites marched around the city, they walked out the victory already won in worship.
Judges 7:15
Gideon bowed to worship, returned to his camp, and reported, "Arise, God has given the enemy into our hands".
It is sometimes more important to persevere in praise than to continue to petition. Why?
Because in praise, we take our eyes off people and stop fighting on the human level. We focus our spiritual eyes on God and see beyond ourselves and our problem to lay hold of His infinite ability, availability, and sovereignty. Praise stirs up our faith to stand in His almighty name.
Because God has already judged Satan and he is a defeated foe. Praise executes upon him and his spiritual rulers the judgments that God has already written (Psalms 149:6-9). God has already handed down the sentence which will be put into effect by the praises of His people.
Because praise acknowledges the victory Christ already won. Jesus is far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name in this age (Ephesians 1:20-21). His victory over Satan was legally accomplished at Calvary, but Satan is contesting His rule. Christ's victory is currently credited to the church. God is using warfare to teach His people massive, continual, aggressive, militant, offensive praise to overcome spiritual forces of wickedness. Praise speeds victory in our prayer battles.
Praise is adoration of God for who He is, His person, His character, His names. It is loving God because He is God. The Bible gives more exhortations to praise than to pray, because God is altogether lovely, holy, and completely worthy of our worship. So, troops, let's use our valuable weapon of praise for the battles we are facing today and see how God delivers us.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/11/11/sg_praise/
Tags: comfort, depend, faith, God's love, hope, Jesus, joy, praise
November 11th, 2009 at 10:46 am
An inspiring devotional.
God defends His children, when they seek His intervention.
Praise the LORD, He is our Fortress.
Thank you and blessings.
November 11th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
" AMEN" ... As Rev> Dr. Stanly of In Touch said...FOCUS on GOD alone and NOT on the people around for the Battle Belongs To THE LORD. PRAISE HIM PRAISE HIM JESUS our Blessed Redeemer... POWER and GLORY unto THE LORD BELONG. GOD bless You for this Encouraging Devotional Message.
November 11th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
thank you for your words .when time of tribulations come ,when we be asked to go and have GOD with us in spirit in soul and in mind .in this life its necessary teach about god of universe and not just the planet earth .let us have in presence GOD of universe GOD of jesus .to WHOM WE PRAY.let be know that darkeness has no way in us amen.AND BE LIGHT FOREVER .
November 12th, 2009 at 2:34 am
i have enjoyed today's devotion alot....it has come at a time when i feel so broken and scared coz of what am going through.. iam supposed to undergo an operation on the 28th of november....pliz people pray for i dont want to go for this operation... iknow God will heal me....
the devotion came at a time wen i rily needed to strengthened...thank you