You have done all you know to do. You have prayed, sowed seeds, given offering, gone for anointing services, attended all manner of meeting, fasted, prayed and fasted again, yet you have not seen even the shadow of your desires. Somewhere along the line, you start to hear voices within and without, telling you there is no hope and no future. You earnestly seek to hear a voice of reassurance but none comes. You are at the end of the rope, on the edge and wondering whether you should continue to hold on or you should just take things into your hands. I will tell you to wait.
You may think you have done all but there is one thing remaining, one final effort, the ultimate weapon. There was a man in the bible who went through a similar situation who prayed for a desire and had to wait for 25 years before it came to past. There was also a man, trapped in a hole, with no hope of rescue, except certain death but got delivered miraculously. There was a king who faced a mighty host, three nations moved against his nation and he defeated them with firing a single shot. What do these men, Abraham, Jonah and Hezekiah, have in common? They all employed the ultimate weapon, the ultimate strategy for victory – praise.
When difficult times arise, and it seems your faith is under attack, your path to victory lies in praise. Now, I do not mean the paltry exercise we sometimes call praise sessions in our services, which most times is about entertainment, with songs that have no bearing on God. I refer to truthful and spiritual worship with songs of praise and worship, with a careful focus on the beauty of God. Many times we hold prayer sessions but how often do we hold worship sessions in which we lift up holy hands, blessing the name of God? Abraham, our Father, was confronted with doubt and delay in the promise of God to Him. The bible says,
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, (Rom 4:19-20)
In the face of certain fact and various reports, Abraham stood and praised God for his deliverance and it came.
There is a very queer case also recorded in the bible. A king going to war with singers as the vanguard of his army.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2 Chron 20:21
Hezekiah never fired a shot in the battle. God fought for him. So we see, when we focus on God in praises, His mighty power is unleashed on our behalf. We read about Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of a fish. His deliverance came after he decided on praising God.
But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’
And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land (Jonah 2:9-10)
Now, for us to enter into the fullness of God’s promises for us, we also need to walk in this path of praise. Take time everyday, I mean quality time, in which you will really praise God. Choose your songs carefully and let them reflect your heart of worship. Instead of besieging heaven with your unanswered request, bless God for the answers. At first, this is not going to come easy. It actually takes faith to praise God and praising God is one of the highest forms of expressing your faith. Take time everyday, in which you will just worship Him only. In the process, you will meet Him and you will walk into your victory.
Peace is with you and thank you for stopping by!
