J E S U S

How To Fight

‘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 in the midst of 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. Shalom!