THE POWER OF PRAISE

“I have personally felt the benefit of rejoicing in the Lord. I have seen it destroy the devil. He cannot stand it. I really believe that God inhabits the praises of His people (Ps. 22:3). God is so pleased when we look beyond the natural and see things in the light of faith. That blesses God.

Praise is not the inevitable byproduct that comes when everything is going right in our lives; it is the driving force. Praise will get our focus where it needs to be—on God. If we start praising God in the middle of our problems, our problems will shrink so much that we’ll hardly remember to bring them to God! We’ll be so busy praising Him and thanking Him for His blessings that our problems will be an afterthought.”  (“Effects of Praise” Andrew Wommack Ministries)

 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.  Psalm 42:11 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  Psalm 139:13-14 NIV

My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long.  Psalm 71:8 NIV

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 NIV

Psalm 22:3 NIV Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 

What the Power of Praise Can Do - 8 Things:  (“What the Power of Praise Can Do: 8 Reminders from His Word” Debbie McDaniel, July 22, 2016)

 

Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God. 

We are living in a selfish world instead of a selfless one.  We need to get our focus off of ourselves and keep our focus on God and others.

 Praise brings us to a place of humility.

We need to recognize our dependency on God.  We need to look to Him for our strength and trust in Him to lead us and guide us.

Praise makes the enemy flee.

Praise pushes back the enemy.  Evil does not stick around if we are praising God because He will fight our battles for us.

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.  2 Chronicles 20:22 NIV

 Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity.  

“God knows our hearts.  And He cares about all that concerns us.  But through praise, we’re focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles.  We’re reminded of what He has already done in our lives.  We’re reminded that He knows what concerns us, and is capable of taking care of all that burdens us.” 

Praise makes room for God’s blessings over our lives. 

“Praise opens the gateway of blessing.”    Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  Psalm 100:4 NIV

Praise invites His presence.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.  Psalm 22:3 NIV God is close to us when we praise Him.

Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in His presence.

God changes our hearts and strengthens us to endure whatever our problems are.  You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.   Psalm 16:11 NIV

It paves the way for God's power to be displayed, miracles ​happen. 

We have a choice each day to live with worry or in peace knowing that God holds us in the palm of His hand.  There is the power of His presence in our lives.  God truly inhabits the praises of His people.

PAUL AND SILAS

Paul and Silas were in prison and instead of bemoaning the situation, they decided to praise and honor God and God performed a miracle in their midst!

 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  Acts 16:25-26 NIV

THE WALLS OF JERICHO

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.  March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.  Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”  Joshua 6:2-5 NIV

JEHOSHAPHAT DEFEATS MOAB AND AMMON

He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”  2 Chronicles 20:15-17 NIV

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.”  2 Chronicles 20:21 NIV

It appears that Jehoshaphat trusted that God would fight their battle and be victorious so he was encouraged in the Lord to send out men singing to God and praising Him and thanking for the victory yet to be won.   

DAVID AND THE PSALMS OF PRAISE

Besides David’s acts of courage such as defeating and killing Goliath, he is well known for writing many of the Psalms.  Seventy-five of the Psalms are attributed to his writings.

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
⁶ They tell of the power of your awesome works—
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The Lord is good to all;
    he has compassion on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you, Lord;
    your faithful people extol you.
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who fall
    and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
    and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord watches over all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
    Let every creature praise his holy name
    for ever and ever.  NIV

The power of praise is essentially not just words that we speak, but also a lifestyle of thanksgiving and trust in God.  When we rest in God we truly trust Him to shoulder our burdens and our problems.  Praise takes us away from looking inward (ourselves) to God Who is always there to strengthen us and lift us up.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Marcella Ward January 5, 2022

Author of “Stolen Identity: Plan of the Evil One”