The Power of Praise

I’ll praise before my breakthrough
‘Til my song becomes my triumph
I will sing because I trust You
I will bring my heart, I will lift my song

Sometimes we can find ourselves in life where praising God just seems too hard. Entering into praise seems the exact opposite of what we feel like doing. But praising God when you don’t feel like isn’t fake, it’s faith. Lifting up praise about His faithfulness in the midst of our struggles is faith. It’s not pretence. It’s not saying our circumstances are all good when they’re not, rather it’s about putting our trust in God, regardless of our circumstances.

When we look at King David, he lived a life of worship. In good days and bad days, in all circumstances. He praised God as a king in his palace. He also praised God while living as a hunted man hiding in a cave. We too are called to worship God in all seasons of life. For praise to be a lifestyle. Indeed, it says in Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times”.

Praise puts the focus on God and who He is. It keeps Him in His rightful place. Above. Above our circumstances, our realities, battles and pain.

The good news too is that praise is a weapon like no other. When we praise God, things happen, atmospheres shift, breakthroughs come. In Acts we read of Paul and Silas, worshipping while shackled in prison. Suddenly there was an earthquake that caused all the prison doors to open and everyone’s chains become loose. Praise opens doors, breaks chains and sets us free.

Praise makes the enemy flee.  It pushes back the darkness. Praise allows God to step in and fight our battles for us.

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

In the face of praise, giants of fear, of despair or hopelessness all fall. Praise is how we fight our battles. Praise invites God to step into our circumstances.

“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation. He is my God and I will praise Him” (Exodus 15:2)