When you feel lost, heavy or out of place, it is time to try praises. As the wise man said, there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). We have prayed and fasted enough, so it’s time to praise God. As Psalm 150:3-6 says, let us turn on the music, dance to the tune, and make a joyful noise, for the Lord has been good to us no matter the situation we find ourselves in.
Related devotional: Unveiling the Majesty of God: His Attributes and Character
David Tried Praise
David was a man of great faith who faced many challenges throughout his life. Despite being anointed as the future king of Israel by the prophet Samuel, David spent years fleeing from King Saul, who saw him as a threat to his reign. His life was constantly in danger, and he had to live in exile and on the run. However, he never lost his faith in God and continued praising Him amid his trials.
Have you tried praises?
One of the most challenging moments in David’s life was when he learned that his son Absalom had rebelled against him and was leading a revolt to overthrow him as king. David was heartbroken by the betrayal of his son and had to flee Jerusalem to avoid being killed.
During this time, David wrote many Psalms, expressing his deep pain and sorrow but also his unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty and love. In Psalm 3, David writes, “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain.” Despite his difficulties, David found comfort in his relationship with God and continued to praise Him even during his struggles.
Everything happens for a reason, and we should never stop praising God. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
Time to try praises
It’s time to try praises. In joy or sorrow, employment or unemployment, money or no money, food, or no food, let us praise the Lord. Praises bring down the glory of God. Praises bring our victory closer than we can imagine. Praises unlock chains of bondage and gates of prisons.
As 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 says, wise King Solomon assembled the singers and they sang praises to God, thanking Him for His goodness and mercy until the glory of God, like a cloud, filled the whole room. The temple was so full of God’s glory that the priests could not preach their sermons. God indeed loves praises!
If you’re feeling rejected and empty, it’s time to try praises, and God will fill you and your surroundings with His glory. King Jehoshaphat faced a similar fate when he was informed about a great multitude of enemies joining forces to fight him. He sought the face of God and was assured of victory.
God indicated to him that he was not to fight but rather to “set himself and stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” When they began to sing and praise God, the Lord set an ambush against their enemies and smitten them (2 Chronicles 20:1-24).
What praises will do for you?
Dear Reader, your breakthrough is just a step ahead, so dry up all your tears. Even if you’re in the prison of discouragement and depression, never stop praising God. Paul and Silas, in Acts 16:25-26, prayed and sang praises to God when they were thrown into prison. They did not weep or murmur, but rather they praised God, and their chains were loosed, and the prison doors were opened.
Have you ever felt like you’ve exhausted all your options and there’s no way out of your predicament? Perhaps you’ve fasted and prayed endlessly, but you’re still not seeing the desired results. If that’s the case, then it’s time to try a different approach – Praise.
It’s easy to get bogged down by past failures and disappointments but dwelling on them only hinders progress. Instead, let’s break free from the shackles of the past and embrace a new season with open arms. As the Bible says in Isaiah 43:18-19, “Remember ye, not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”.
Take a cue from David in the Bible. He never wavered in his faith and always found solace in praising God despite numerous challenges throughout his life. In the Psalms, David expressed his trust in God and gratitude for His unfailing love and faithfulness. If David could overcome his challenges through praise and worship, then you can too. So, arise and shine for thy light has come!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6). Praise God always, for He is good, and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 136:1).