During challenging times, it’s crucial not only to pray but also to praise—for this opens heaven’s gates.
After their deliverance from Egypt, Moses and the Israelites sang, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; …The Lord is a warrior” (Exodus 15:2-3 NASB). Salvation comes from God. When we activate praise as a weapon of spiritual warfare, miracles happen!
We’re instructed in Psalm 100:4, Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. This is the same pattern of prayer Jesus gives us in the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be Your name.”
Psalm 149 begins, Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. … Let them praise His name with the dance. Here are all the saints for all time gathered before the throne. In the Hebrew tradition, people would dance in a circle. And at the center is God, for He must be the center of our praise.
Verse 5 continues, Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. I lived this on my deathbed with cerebral malaria many years ago. From my innermost being came a song, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” I didn’t know I was singing Psalm 118, a song of deliverance from death. I sang it aloud on my bed, not caring who I woke up—and not knowing I was opening a gate to heaven.
So, no matter how difficult things look, praise Him in faith. Psalm 149:6 tells us, Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand. Within us is Jesus and the full anointing of the Godhead. As we praise Him, we invite His presence and we welcome His kingdom.
Revelation 5:9 records the new song we will sing: “You are worthy … for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” God bless you.
Excerpted from a teaching at CBN Staff Chapel. Scripture is quoted from the NKJV except as noted.
