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.