WARFARE
HOW TO FIGHT?
It takes faith to trust God for justice. God’s justice doesn’t always come according to our timelines, but it will come through. Running ahead of God has never proven to be an effective strategy. It only results in additional wasted time, effort, and unnecessary pain. I repeat, we wrestle not against flesh and blood. David understood this and reminded himself of this through prayer. Prayer kept his heart from going astray or growing bitter, refocusing it on God.
2. Fight by Praising God
As we continue reading in Psalm 57, we find David praising God. David understood the power of praise during trials. While hiding from Saul in the Cave of Adullam, David understood praise as a powerful tool that brings us joy amid a storm. Praise takes our eyes off the storm, circumstance, and person(s) and pushes us to sing about how great our God is. When we praise God, our battle is belittled. Praise should not be taken lightly, and most certainly was not taken lightly by David.
Psalm 57:5 ESV Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
‘It’s important to remember that David’s circumstances were not much better when he sang this song. He was delivered from the immediate danger at Gath, but a cave was a long way from the throne of Israel which God had promised him. David didn’t wait for his circumstances to change before he praised God above the heavens.’
57:10 Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds:
: “A cave narrows and darkens the vision of most people, but David’s heart and song soared unto the clouds. He exalted the mercy and truth of God even from difficult circumstances.”
Psalm 22:3, KJV But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
God hears our praise, and He deserves our praise. Praising God amid trials demonstrates that you genuinely believe that God can keep you and that He is in control. It keeps our hearts from becoming bitter and fearful. It resets our focus on the author of salvation (Hebrews 2:10). Satan would rather we withhold our praise. But resist, open up your heart and mouth, and shout to the Lord amid your trial!
Let’s remember how Paul and Silas praised God and sang hymns and how their chains fell off in Acts 16:25-26, KJV
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed.
Praise sets us free from the bondage Satan wants to introduce into our lives through the difficulty we may be facing. Satan would rather we be bitter, complain, or take on the burden of figuring things out without God’s guidance. Praise will set you free from this trap. Use it as a tool to fight. Praise doesn’t just set you free; it positively impacts others around you who are down. Not only were Paul and Silas set free, but the other prisoners were set free, too. It is a tool and weapon that should not be underestimated.
I recall the lyrics of William Murphy’s song titled “Praise is what I do’
“I vow to praise you, through the good and the bad,
I’ll praise you, whether happy or sad.
I’ll praise you in all that I go through, because praise is what I do.
Because I owe it all to you’’
In conclusion, as Christians, we cannot effectively fight without prayer and praise. If one fails to pray, it means that they can fight their battles alone. Prayer brings us to our knees as we humbly commit the situations we face to God. If one fails to praise, the circumstance before you can grow unnecessarily large in your eyes. But by exalting God, you remind yourself that God is bigger than any mountain you may face. This is how we experience true freedom.
Prayers and Praises should be key identifiers in a Christian’s life. Your circumstances will not consume you. In the end, you’ll look back and see that indeed the hand of God was with you. Don’t give up, keep fighting, keep praying, and keep praising. Peace Be Unto All!
Spiritual warfare is a pervasive theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the struggle believers face against unseen forces and the importance of relying on God's strength rather than human effort. Central to this battle is the understanding that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood," as stated in Ephesians 6:12, highlighting that the real enemy is spiritual. The article stresses two key weapons in this warfare: prayer and praise, both of which are vividly illustrated in the lives of biblical figures. Prayer serves as the foundation of trust and surrender to God's justice and timing. The patience required in spiritual battles is challenging, but scripture encourages believers to commit their struggles to God humbly. David's use of prayer kept his heart aligned with God’s will rather than bitterness or despair, even while facing imminent physical danger. This act of turning to God in humility and faith is essential because it acknowledges God's sovereignty and invites His intervention. Praise, equally powerful, shifts focus away from the difficulties by exalting God's attributes such as mercy, truth, and holiness. Psalm 57 and 22 reveal David's deep understanding that praising God amidst hardship not only uplifts the worshipper's spirit but also diminishes the grip of trials. When Paul and Silas sang praise in prison (Acts 16:25-26), their worship became a catalyst for miraculous deliverance, demonstrating that praise can disrupt spiritual bondage and manifest God’s power. In addition to personal freedom, praise also influences the community. The liberation of other prisoners alongside Paul and Silas illustrates how worship can extend blessings to those around us, fostering a collective atmosphere of hope and faith. This communal aspect makes praise a vital spiritual weapon against discouragement and despair not only for oneself but also for others. Modern believers can draw encouragement from these examples by integrating regular prayer and praise into their spiritual lives. Songs like William Murphy’s "Praise is What I Do" echo this biblical truth, reinforcing the commitment to worship God regardless of circumstances. Such intentional praise nurtures resilience, joy, and peace, anchoring believers in faith when external situations seem overwhelming. In summary, spiritual warfare is fought not only by resisting negative forces but by actively engaging in prayer and praise. These practices affirm God’s control, protect hearts from bitterness, and open the way for divine intervention and freedom. Embracing them enables believers to face life's battles with confidence, knowing that God’s just hand is at work even when immediate outcomes are unseen.
