“I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” Ps 18:3 KJV

Hello friend! 🌻 Praising God is easy when we see the victory we’ve been praying for, wouldn’t you agree? But what about praising God BEFORE the victory? You know, those times we feel like we can’t hang in there any longer?

We prayed for a breakthrough in a sad situation for many years but instead of getting better, it continues to get worse. The boulder sitting on my chest feels so heavy, like it’s going to choke the life out of me and it’s hard to remember to lift my arms in praise.

There are many stories in our Bible pointing to the victory God brings us when we praise Him through our battles. He is having me write this post today to reset and strengthen my heart and I hope these words encourage you as well. 

WHEN PRAISES GO UP, THE WALLS COME DOWN – Joshua

Joshua 6:16 – “The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!” (NIV)

Isn’t it intresting they had to shout before the walls came down? It seems more natural to hold off on celebrating until after the walls came down but that wouldn’t require any faith. Jericho had a massive, inpenetrable wall built around the city but that didn’t stop the LORD from giving His people the victory. He commanded the Israelites to march around the city in silence for six days and on the seventh day they were to give a shout of praise. And that wall literally collapsed!

Are you facing an insurmountable wall today? Take encouragement from Joshua and give a shout of praise anyway. Stand and believe God can make a way when it seems there is no way. In God’s timing, those walls will come down.

THE NAME OF JESUS BREAKS EVERY CHAIN – Paul and Silas in Prison

In Acts 16 we find the story of Paul and Silas, beaten and thrown into prison because of their zeal to preach the gospel no matter the cost. The jailer placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks (vs 24). At midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and other prisoners were listening (vs 25). Then suddenly, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once the prison doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose (vs 25-16). The story goes on to tell us that the jailer and his family were baptized (vs 33).

Paul and Silas may have been physically chained down, but their hearts and minds remained steadfastly free in the Lord. Their praises drew God near to them and kept their hearts from sinking into despair. If your strength is gone and you don’t know what to pray, the name of JESUS is the most powerful one word prayer in existance. Praising God not only set Paul and Silas free, but their worship led to freedom for those who were around them at the time as well. 

PRAISING GOD SPINS SATAN INTO CONFUSION – King Jehoshaphat

In 2 Chronicles 20:20-24 NLT, king Jehoshaphat and his army found themselves up against 3 armies in the wilderness. The king told his singers to go on up to the front of his marching army and sing/praise God’s Holy Name. The moment they started to praise Him, God caused the three enemy armies to turn on each other and destroy themselves. When the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.

This is huge y’all! When we praise God, we untie His hands to completely take over for us and this throws the enemy into massive confusion. Satan’s evil cohorts begin to attack each other until they absolutely destroy themselves. “… This is what the LORD says: “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT

VICTORY COMES THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE – Jonah

The story of Jonah reflects what it means to give to the Lord the sacrifice of praise. The LORD had declared judgment on Nineveh and sent His prophet to preach to them. But Jonah ran from God and found himself in the belly of a giant fish. In chapter two, we find his prayer from inside the fish. The prophet said: “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD” Jonah 2:7 KJV. Jonah’s prayer/praise moved God and the fish was commanded to vomit Jonah onto dry land.

Jonah 2:9 says: “But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the LORD alone” (NLT). God is after the praise that rises up in the midst of great trials – grief, financial problems, sickness, oppression, temptation and relational difficulties. Ps 126:6 promises: “Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them” (NIV).

Our minds do not naturally submit to the flow of His Spirit so we have to determine to praise God, even when our souls feel like fainting. But when we do, we untie Jesus’ hands to fight our battles and He brings us rest and relief for our emotions by replacing our spirit of heaviness with His garment of praise (Isa 61:3).

My friend, I don’t know what you are going through right now but He sees you. He hears you. He loves you. Take courage, His victory is on its way! 🙌🙌🙌

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:57 ESV

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