Would you go into a battle without a weapon? No military leader would recommend it I’m sure.
But God’s no ordinary military leader and that’s exactly what He did.
An army is approaching King Jehoshaphat’s people intent on erasing them from existence. He needs a battle plan and hits his knees in prayer.
And what God told him was probably not what he expected to hear.
He tells the king to put the praisers up front before the army. It’d be like going to war with the praise team or church choir leading the charge.
Who fights with nothing but words and songs using only their mouth as a weapon? Who praises their way to victory? Why did God instruct them to do something that makes no sense?
Because He knew that while praise might seem like an unlikely weapon it’s by far the most powerful.
Lifting God higher pushes Satan lower. Praise provides God the platform on which to perform your miracle.
Your miracle begins in your mouth, in praise to God.
Our natural tendency when facing difficulties is to panic then plead for help.
Praise doesn’t come naturally when you’re in the fight of your life but it’s exactly what is going to win your battle.
Recently I found myself in an all out war with the enemy and a knot had started to form in the pit of my stomach.
Around 2:00 a.m. when I couldn’t sleep God reminded me of King Jehoshaphat and the battle plan of praise that saved a nation.
That plan was going to save me as well. I started praising Him and the peace that had evaded me for weeks began to envelop me and I drifted off into a restful sleep.
Praise is the last weapon we pick up but it’s the first and most effective one to win the war.
We tend to wait until the battle is won to praise God. Once our Red Sea has parted, our Goliath is dead, the storm has calmed and the worst is over then we offer praise.
What would happen if we began praising Him at the first hint of trouble?
We’d disable the enemy, find strength to carry on and harness the power, peace and hope that praise provides.
Clearly, praise is the unlikely weapon that’s going to win our wars!
Let’s press on and power ahead with praise to Him for victory when we see the enemy coming!
Sandra Hubbard
Scripture Reference: 2 Chron 20: 17, 21 – 22
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”
As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
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