Sing praises!

    I love the story of king Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah (2 Chronicles 20). Combined armies were coming against them and they were dreadfully afraid. Yet, Jehoshaphat resolved to turn to the Lord his God for help. He did not turn to man, he did not turn to another nation but to his God for help in a situation that was way bigger than them. He laid his claim before God and ended his prayer acknowledging that he had no idea what to do concerning the vast army coming against them but they would keep their eyes on Him. In response, the Lord assured them that the battle was not theirs but His (v.15). They would not even need to fight in the battle. All they would have to do was stand still and see how God would deliver them (v.17).
    The next day, as the army went out, Jehoshaphat put a group of singers in front of the army to sing praises to the Lord God. Believe it or not, this unusual strategy worked. As they praised, their enemies began to fight against one another until they were completely consumed. Not a man was left alive! By the time the children of Judah reached them, all they saw was dead bodies. It took them three days to remove and carry away all the valuables and jewellery they found on the dead bodies. God had come through for them big time!
    What catches my attention among other things, is the fact that as the army of Judah went out to meet their enemies, they went out with songs of praise to the Lord.  God was ultimately their King and they would do battle the way He directed them. They did not praise God after the battle ended but before the battle even began! God had told them not to worry, He would handle it and they chose to trust Him. He did not disappoint.
    Can you remember times when God told you not to worry, He would handle it and you chose to praise and thank Him instead of worry? Maybe it was a seemingly tiny insignificant instance or something major that happened in your life. The reality is that praise and thanksgiving are some of the most powerful weapons we have. When we choose to praise God and be thankful in the face of dire circumstances, even before a situation actually works out, it shifts our focus from the problem to God. He, in turn, has a way of using that attitude of gratitude to turn things around for our good. 
    I am reminded of the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16-40, when they were thrown into prison simply because they cast a spirit of divination out of a slave girl. Her owners became angry because they were making money through her fortune-telling. While in jail, however, Paul and Silas chose to pray and sing hymns to God. As a result God delivered them out of their prison and salvation was brought to the jailer and his entire household. They did not wait to get out of prison to praise God. They praised Him while there, when they did not even know what their fate would be. 
    God wants us to trust Him enough to praise Him and give Him thanks because at the end of the day, He still has the final say on our situation. Yes, things may look as scary and as discouraging as that combined army that came against king Jehoshaphat and Judah. They were outnumbered just as you might feel outnumbered at times. But, when God is on your side, you truly don’t need to worry. Like Jehoshaphat, fix your eyes on the One who can solve the problem, and who is bigger than the problem facing you. Choose instead to praise and be thankful, instead of worry and complain. There is truly power in prayer but there is also power in praise and thanksgiving. 
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. You know the battle you are facing, whether it be external (outside forces) or internal (inner struggles). Yet, God is bigger than what you are facing and when you choose to fix your eyes on Him and praise Him even when it doesn’t make sense, God will come through for you. He will not fail you.​

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