THE POWER OF PRAISE

 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD… And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2 Chronicles 20:21-22

Worship and praise to God were part of the daily lives of the early Christians. They did it always (Acts 2:47). They praised because they had insight to the fact that praise was not ordinary. There was power in praise. Unfortunately today, we praise God occasionally or when we have only received from Him. The psalmist said, “I will praise thee, o Lord, with my whole heart I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.” (Psalm 9:1).

Going back to 2 Chronicles 20; Jehoshaphat went out against the enemy in the form of three armies – the Ammonites, the Moabites and the inhabitants of Mount Seir. These three armies had banded together against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. He and his people didn’t have the capacity to face them. He called the people to fast and pray. God moved upon a young man in the congregation and he prophesied saying that the Lord told them not to be afraid. He told them where the enemies were and said to go against them because the battle was the Lord’s. The next morning, they marched against the enemies and the bible says they put the praise singers in front. “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever,” they sang. As they began to sing, the Lord set ambush against the children of Ammon, Moab and Mount seir and they were smitten. Those who were remaining left all their goods and ran. Jehoshaphat and his people had victory through the manifestation of God’s power in praise. That is what praise will do in your life and circumstance if you will dedicate yourself to it today.