Praise God at All Times
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.1
We praise God when His favor is evident or when our prayers are answered. However, in times of grief, expressing gratitude can seem impossible. But praise is important to God, and from His perspective, it shouldn't depend on our feelings. It's a choice we can make that not only delights Him but also helps us recognize and receive His blessings.
As we praise God, we realize how dependent we are on Him. Our helplessness and hopelessness position us to receive blessings that we would have missed while trying to handle things on our own. When Jehoshaphat was about to face a terrifying army, he said, "Lord, we do not know what to do, and to you we turn our eyes." In other words: "We are weak and we need you to intervene. We're waiting, God, what are you going to do?" The Lord loves this because His power can then be released in all its fullness. And He alone is glorified.
Suggested Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that everything is under Your control, and I praise You that nothing can touch me unless it first passes through Your protecting power. Father, I praise You for Your omniscience and omnipotence that You use for my benefit. I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
1. 2 Chronicles 20:21-23 (NIV).
Today's Encounter was written by: Rosina N.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.