HELP FROM ABOVE THROUGH PRAISE
Bible Reading: Psalm 148-150; 1 Corinthians 11:16-34
“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praise of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 (KJV)
The above memory verse of scripture points us to one of the ways through which humans can move God. Move God? Yes! you heard me correctly! God can be moved. He is the creator of heavens and the earth. He owns everything in the universe because He created them all. Even after delegating everything in the world to man He still oversees the affairs of the entire world.
Man have been faced with so many challenges since God gave him dominion over the earth and the mandate to fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:28). The challenge began when the devil deceived the woman who in turn got the first man into disobeying the orders given by God. Man is still being faced with the consequences of his actions. But the coming of Jesus into the world to die for our sin has brought man closer to God again. Even though God now sees man the same way He sees His Son, Jesus, yet man appears not to know how to move God to help in overcoming the challenges he is being faced with.
One way to getting God on your side is through Praise. Psalm 22:3 (KJV) says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praise of Israel.” Praises to God brings Him to your side. Praises to God is a sign of humility. It is magnifying Him as the Maker and Owner of all. When you continually praise God both in season and out of season it shows your trust in Him. God helps those who trust in Him and call on Him. He does not help you because you are in need, No! He turns to you when you trust in Him and then call upon Him to help in that situation. Man will forever need the help of God. There were times in the bible where God’s people were challenged but God only stepped in when He was called upon.
When Jehosaphat saw trouble coming from afar in the form of three stronger nations – the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Mount Seir – coming together as one to fight against him and his people. He feared and ran to God in prayer. A word came from the Spirit for him and his people to set the battle in array with singers in front (2 Chronicles 20:5-17). When they did as the Spirit commanded, God came to their side in the battle, the bible tells us “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. [23] For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another” 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (KJV).
Praises moved God to Judah’s side and they needed not to fight in the battle, as the Spirit had said, but watched God move on their behalf and destroyed all their enemies. God has not changed, He is still the same yesterday, today and forever. He is still moved by praises today and always. No wonder the bible commanded us, “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 150:6 (KJV). No matter the situation you are being faced with bring God in through praise and He will come to your aid.
Action Point: Make it a must to never cry or fear when challenged but rather praise God first and commit the situation into His Hands.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu