Want to see supernatural breakthroughs in the challenges you are facing? Sing!
Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God [in their jail cell], and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! Acts 16:25-26
Yes, I know it is only one story, but check out these others—and some relevant verses:
+ The great victory Israel experienced when Jehoshaphat positioned the priests on the frontline of the battle so they could sing and praise the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:21-22.
+ Nehemiah’s admonition to not linger too long in regret over sin: Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength Nehemiah 8:10.
+ Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him Ps 50:23.
+ He [God] inhabits the praises of His people Psalm 22:3.
+ The city is left in ruins. Its gate is battered to pieces… like an olive tree which has been shaken or like what’s left after the grape harvest. They raise their voices. They shout for joy. From the sea they sing joyfully about the Lord’s majesty Isaiah 24:12-14.
Judson Cornwall sums it up well, ‘Saints who would learn to do battle for the Lord should first learn how to praise, for God sends praise as the shock troops to drive the enemy back before the rest of the army is allowed to join the battle.’ (Let us Praise, pg. 44-45).
But do we praise Him simply to win battles and overcome obstacles? Well, yes and no. We praise Him because:
1. He is worthy of praise—it’s the only fitting response to His wonderfulness. Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1.
2. He is pleased with our praise—as with a sweet aroma from a sacrifice (Gen. 8:21). Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name Hebrews 13:15.
3. He is glorified/present when we praise—which in turn puts enemies to flight, bringing Him further glory! ‘O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.’ So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled 2 Chronicles 14:11-12.
So, yes, we praise Him because He is worthy—in the challenging times and the times of abundance. This pleases Him and brings Him glory. Praise also helps get our focus in the right place—on the one who fights our battles—rather than on the challenges themselves. Allowing God into the difficulties—and seeing Him provide breakthroughs—brings Him glory.
Personally, my biggest struggle is learning to praise consistently. David describes it like this: ‘His praise shall continually be on my lips’ (Psalm 34:1). I find it helpful to think of praise as being like an internal motor. My goal is to keep the praise motor running all day.
Finding little things to thank Him for and keeping a worship song playing on repeat in the background of our minds is a great start. Where it’s practical, verbalise those songs of praise—Sing! Things will likely go so much better. It’s a cycle. We praise, He gives grace, and we praise some more.
‘The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving’ Psalm 28:7.
This song sums it up well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpuUlPfx0Ow
Image by 8photo on Freepik
