The Armoury of Heaven: Praise and Worship

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by Melissa Yong

Posted on 8/07/09.
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A look at praise and worship, and what they mean to us.

Read 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.
The Bible says that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3), and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. This is not just a pretty thought: it is a spiritual principle that we need to put into practice.
Whether private or corporate, praise and worship invites the fullness of God to take control of situations and act on your behalf.

The key of true praise and worship is humility and surrender. This kind of worship comes from a place of thanksgiving, and trust in God's goodness and love.
When we put our trust in God, He acts.

Praise and worship has a two-pronged effect on us:
1. It MINISTERS to our hearts as we express ourselves in praise and worship.
FAITH is exercised and built up as we continually think and sing about God's power, His goodness to us, His Word and promises. This brings HOPE and expectation.

2. It MAGNIFIES God to all the people. Our view of God can get distorted.
In hard times, He may seem far, or we can be distracted - but in praise and worship we focus on and declare the attributes of God. As we do this, the negative thoughts fall off and the Lord is 'magnified' in our eyes and we see Him unveiled in His glory. When these things happen, praise and worship become ACTIVE. It is no longer just about singing a tune, but wielding a dynamic force.
The words we sing become words with power because they are backed by our faith. Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue and God's power is activated and put in motion by faith.
Praise and worship can bring healing, deliverance, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and new insight into the character of God, amongst others. This is because worship is also a personal interaction between yourself and God.

This is also why praise and worship is not complete without prayer. Prayer is basically working with God and His authority, through faith-filled words, to accomplish His Kingdom's objectives on the earth. High level praise and worship can lead to powerful prayers that can break through invisible obstacles and cause significant outcomes in both the physical and spiritual realm.

Think about King Jehoshaphat's approach outlined in 2 Chronicles, from his prayer to the victory.
God's strategy against that huge army was very different, and according to the approach to combat in those days it would have been seen as crazy. Why was it 'crazy' and what was God responding to?

Think about the principles discussed in today's devotional and spot where they were in use.

Application: now that you know some more about the dynamics of praise and worship, aim to get actively involved with your heart and will during times of praise and worship - both in private and corporately in meetings.

Think about what you sing, and mean what you sing. Ask God to teach you more about praise and worship.

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