Text: Psalm 50:14-15, 23; 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
It is natural to praise God when
something good happens or when everything is rosy, but it takes real sacrifice
to offer praise when you have a tough problem. Then, you don’t feel like it
because you are weary or you feel like God let you down. You think He is
distant from you, or does not really care about what is troubling you when life
has just dealt you some painful blows.
Well, here is what makes a big
difference! Praising God in the time of adversity, though not a natural
response, is a sure path to victory. I encourage you to praise God always,
whatever your situation, because there
is power in praise; therein lies your victory.
Praise invites God’s presence and
paves the way for His power to be displayed in your life. King Jehoshaphat
understood this quite well, and deployed the weapon of praise in the war
between Judah and the combined forces of the Ammonites, Moabites and Mount
Seir.
As Judah raised her voice in
praise, “The Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab and mount
Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of
Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay
and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone
helped to destroy another” (2 Chronicles 20:22-23).When you’re
confronted with situations beyond your power and ability, sing praises to God,
and He will pull you through.
The apostle Paul also experienced
the power of praise in his life and ministry. When he was locked up in a
Philippians jail with his companion, Silas, and throbbing with pain from the
severe beating they had received from the jailors, he looked away from his
predicament and praised God earnestly. God miraculously released him and Silas
by opening all the prison doors through earthquake that shook the foundations
of the prison (Acts 16:23-26). Miracle
happens when you praise God.
Praise passed your battle over to
God. It helps you place your trust in God and look away from your problem. It
also makes you remember God’s great acts of the past in your life and leaves no
room for you to complain and be negative. Praise lifts your faith. You cannot
sincerely praise God and remain despondent and doubtful of His ability to pull
you through your circumstance. As you praise God, your spirit is lifted, your
anxiety dissipated, and your nerves calmed.
However, you cannot truly praise
God or experience the wonders of praise except you accept Jesus as your Saviour
and Lord. That means, you must confess your sins to God, ask Him to forgive
you, repent of those sins, believe in Jesus, and live by the Word of God.
Praise is a potent weapon in the
hand of a Christian and the pathway to victory. So, when next you are
confronted with a situation that is beyond you, praise God just as Jehoshaphat,
the people of Judah, Paul and Silas did when they had a tough problem. He will
give you the victory you deserve.
*** Written by Pastor W.F. Kumuyi | DCLM Women Mirror ***
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