Did you know you’re a great threat to the devil? That’s why he works so feverishly to keep you preoccupied with your problems. The reason the devil fears you so much is because he knows power is released when you give God praise. Satan was the praise leader in heaven until he was cast out. Therefore, he’s well acquainted with the power of praise. That’s why he’s intent on keeping you silent. He knows as long as you continue to complain and bemoan your situation, you’ll stay stuck. Complaints don’t move God. They fall on deaf ears.
Praise is contrary to our nature when we’re going through. Here’s what we tend to do. We praise God until we get to the next problem and then develop spiritual amnesia and forget everything He’s already done. Satan knows how we operate: you won’t answer the phone, stop going to church, and complain, until eventually your praise is silenced. When you’re going through is not the time to be quiet. You’ve got to push past how you feel and learn how to praise and cry at the same time if you have to. When under attack, it’s critical you know how to properly respond like a thermostat, not like a thermometer. Thermometers react to their environment. Thermostats control their environment. You’ve been created to win.
In the Book of Acts Chapter 16, Paul and Silas had cast a demon out of a young girl which set the enemy into panic mode. In turn the enemy began his onslaught. He unleashed a multitude and the magistrates against Paul and Silas. Imagine these two men being accused of turning the city upside down by themselves. Now that’s what I call power. Paul and Silas were stripped, severely beaten, thrown into the inner prison and put in stocks to ensure their confinement. It was one thing after another. The Bible says while in prison, they began to pray and sing praises unto God at midnight. While in the midst of praise they and the other prisoners were loosed of their chains and their prison cells were opened.
Have you ever had a multitude of problems (bills, sickness, child acting crazy, marriage on the rocks) hurled at you? Child of God, it doesn’t matter what comes against you if God be for you (Romans 8:31). But how do you praise God when all hell breaks out? How do you praise God when you’d rather throw yourself a pity party? That’s the very time you need to praise your way through.
Praise takes the focus off you. It’s a powerful weapon in our Christian arsenal. It shifts things, frees from bondage and opens doors. Praise invokes God’s presence and power, defeats the enemy and strengthens your faith. Praise can change your situation. Sometimes however, your praise changes you so profoundly the situation stays the same but doesn’t bear the same significance. The Bible says, “Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).
Your praise has the power to shake the very foundation of what holds you captive. You’re locked and loaded. Why do you think you’re being bombarded with one thing after another? The devil knows how powerful you are. He knows if you go through enough, you’ll go silent on God. He believes he can shut you down by lashing you with a multitude of problems. The multitude is intended to whip you into silence. Don’t you dare go silent on God. Your ability to praise God shouldn’t be based on how you feel. Praise must be an intentional choice.
Praise brings us into God’s presence. He draws near to us (2 Chronicles 5:13-14). He makes Himself known in the midst of your problem. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks.” You’re so loaded with power that hell had a planning meeting about you last night. The conversation went something like this. Whatever you do, don’t let them go to church. Make them think they’re too tired. They have too much to do. Let’s convince them things won’t change. What can we toss at them so they’ll put themselves on lock-down? Let’s keep them imprisoned so they’ll never discover their potential. A prison is a place of confinement whereby the enemy uses it to control your behavior.
What’s your prison? Is it sickness, rejection, loss of a loved one, depression, loneliness, unemployment, finances or family problems? Maybe your prison keeps you chained to your past. What will you do at midnight? All of us will experience a midnight in our lives when things are at their darkest. Midnight is when the night is half over, and each minute brings you closer to morning. Midnight is a temporary span of time. In the course of a day, it only lasts for 60 seconds. Hence, your midnight won’t last forever. Joy is coming in the morning. Praise can accelerate the arrival of morning. If you want to live a victorious life you’ve got to learn how to give God praise even at midnight.
Join us next week for the conclusion of Your Praise Has Power.
Until next time…Be blessed!
Rev. Cynthia Jackson
Rhema Inspirations
P.S. We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a line and let us know if this post has been a blessing to you.
Rev. Cynthia Jackson is the administrator of the Rhema4U Blog and Innovations Ministries Director. Rev. Jackson is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was licensed and ordained under the tutelage of Bishop David G. Evans. She is an associate minister at Bethany Baptist Church located in Lindenwold, New Jersey. Rev. Jackson founded Innovations Ministries in 2001. Innovations Ministries provides dynamic and innovative programs and services for individuals and families dealing with various health-related issues. She is a gifted teacher, preacher, conference speaker and writer. God has anointed Rev. Jackson to be a spiritual midwife with a passion to empower others to birth God's vision for their lives. Rev. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Organizational Management from Eastern University, a Master of Science Degree in Health Administration from Saint Joseph's University and a Master of Science Degree in Christian Counseling from Cairn University.
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