I was reading the Scripture; Second Chronicles 17, and we're talking about praise and what's the point of praise.
Of course, God deserves all the praise. And we use Christianese words like “Praise the Lord” or “glory to God,” but how often in our life do we praise God?
What's the purpose of praising God? The Bible says, “Enter His gates with Thanksgiving, enter His courts with praise.” So, if we're going to God in prayer, it doesn't have to be super fancy, using all these in the “thees” and the "thous” and all the King James version terminology.
All we have to do is start thanking God. It’s easy and anybody can do it. You don't need all spiritual lingo. All you got to do is say, “Thank You, God. You've been good, and I appreciate You coming through. I appreciate You delivering me out of this situation. I appreciate You healing my body.”
Just thank God. Talk to Him like I'm talking to you.
When we go to Him with thanks and gratitude, we start to talk about who He is. You’re not trying to play any games, you’re giving Him the praise, honor, and exhortation that He already deserves.
If He doesn't do anything else, He's good. If He doesn't heal another part of your body, if He doesn't come through with the finances, He is still good. We get so wrapped up in what's going on in our lives that we forget to praise Him for all the things that He's brought us from, brought us through, and brought us to.
And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 2 Chronicles 17:20:20-22
The Lord comes to this King named Jehoshaphat and he’s in a bit of trouble. The army is against him and they're surrounding him on every side. He doesn't know what to do. And the Word of the Lord comes to this guy and he's like, “This is what we need to do, we have to show up to the battle, but we don't have to fight.”
God was telling Jehoshaphat that he needed to pray and sing praises out first. What God is telling me to tell you is we need to pray, sing the praises out first.
I'm sure all the cats with the drums and the trumpets and flutes are like, “You’re gonna send us first to war, huh? How's that work?"
So, they go out ahead of everybody else and start praising God, start thanking God, start playing the trumpets. It's like Psalm 150:4-6, praise God with the flute, praise God with the drum, praise God with the dance, praise God with everything you have, everything that has breath praise God.
They start doing this and for some reason, the enemy gets confused and turns on itself, destroying itself. The army of Jehoshaphat didn't even have to fight, the enemy destroyed itself.
You don’t have to fight, you just had to show up and God, He fights the battle for you.
That's such an encouragement to me to know that the battle's not mine, the battle is the Lord's. Not sure what you're going through today or what you're facing right now. The things that look like it's surrounding you on every side, remember that the battle is not yours, the battle belongs to God and all He requires is that you open your mouth and praise Him.
I know it’s not easy. The gas prices are high. The food is high. People are getting on your last never. Just start turning your language around. Start praising God for His goodness, His provision, healing, and protection.
by Neal Hopson