As I paced back and forth across the hospital room in frustration this week, waiting for medical staff to pay attention to one of our daughters who had been rushed to hospital by ambulance the night before, I was reminded of the importance of praise and lifting up the name of Jesus in whatever circumstance we may be facing.
The most common method for the devil to attack us is to bring discouragement, fear, negativity, hopelessness, and despair into our lives. These things can paralyze and cause us to take our eyes off God. But Praise is powerful and a force. It silences our enemy, lifts our perspective and gives us strength. (Psalm 8:1-2; Matthew 21:16)
Even if we feel overwhelmed, frustrated and unsure of what to do, God’s power is released when we take our eyes off the problem and start to praise.
Praise secures our victory and release, because praise is a weapon.
If you need a victory, supernatural intervention and God’s grace to prevail, then rather than focusing and stressing, start to praise!. For God inhabits the praises of His people, and the enemy hates it. (Psalm 22:3).
He has “established praise because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger”. (Psalm 8:2)
God says to praise because it silences the devil and his work. When we resist the devil, He will flee (James 4:7).
In fact, according to God’s Word, praise and strength are the same things. When we praise, we gain strength, so if you want to be strong, learn to praise!
Isaiah says, If your spirit is heavy, put on “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness“ (Isaiah 61:3)
In Acts 16:25-26, the power of Praise is displayed when Paul and Silas are imprisoned for speaking about Jesus. Now, if anybody had a reason to be downcast, these guys did. They had been mistreated, beaten and chained in the innermost part of the prison. Yet what did they do? They started singing. That’s right; they were singing praises to God until suddenly the whole jail shook, and the prison doors swung open.
Today, I encourage you to begin to praise regardless of what sickness, lack, discouragement, addiction, past hurt or situation you find yourself in. It will silence the enemy, release the power of God and deliver supernatural ability and power into your life.
If you find it difficult to praise or aren’t familiar with it, then start by getting the Word out and reading (preferably out loud) the Psalms, which speak of God’s goodness, His mighty exploits and power, His mercy His grace.
Listen to praise music and get around others who know how to praise and be encouraged by them.
Praise is powerful, and instead of remaining under your circumstances, it will cause you to overcome.
“I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love; I praise him for all he has done for us.” (Isaiah 63:7)
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.” (Psalms 100:4)
1 John 5:14-15 says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you have ordained praise to silence my enemies and to bring me strength. Would you please help me to praise you because, in Praise, I have the victory? You are faithful to your promises, and when I ask, I receive. In Jesus Name Amen.