Devotional

Yesterday, the story of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 reminded us that God fights for us when we do battle through prayer and fasting, but that is not the only insight we get from that passage. Verse 21 tells us, as they were preparing to fight, “Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise Him for the splendour of his holiness as they went out to the head of the army saying, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his Love endures forever.’”

Praise paved the way for victory. The Bible says, “As they began to sing and praise,” the Lord began to defeat the enemy. The people’s posture of praise released God’s power in the midst of the battle!

One of the most important things we can do is spend time thanking and worshipping God. Don’t just pray about the problem, but praise God through the problem. Right now, praise Him in advance for bringing the victory. No matter the conflict we face, celebrating who God is and what He is going to do always opens the door for His miraculous power to be unleashed in our lives!

Scriptures

2 Chronicles 20:20-21 ESV
And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Psalm 68:1-10 NET
God springs into action! His enemies scatter; his adversaries run from him. As smoke is driven away by the wind, so you drive them away. As the wax melts before the fire, so the wicked are destroyed before God. But the godly are happy; they rejoice before God and are overcome with joy. Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him! He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace. God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert. O God, when you lead your people into battle, when you march through the desert, (Selah) the earth shakes, yes, the heavens pour down rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people. When they are tired, you sustain them, for you live among them. You sustain the oppressed with your good blessings, O God.