DOMINION MANDATE DAILY DEVOTIONAL

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022

PRAISE MOVES GOD ON YOUR BEHALF

BIBLE READING: 2 CHRONICLES 20:21-25; HEBREWS 13:15

"I will call upon the Lord Who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies." 2Samuel 22:4(KJV).

During this Season of Thanksgiving, the role of Praise can never be overemphasized. The Bible tells us explicitly that the Lord God Almighty is "...enthroned in the Praises of Israel." Ps. 22:3(NKJV). In other words, God shows up on the scene whenever Genuine Praises are offered up to Him. Praise is one of the Highest Expressions of Gratitude which always triggers off a Divine Response.

After casting out the spirit of divination from a slave girl in Philippi, Apostle Paul and Silas were "rewarded" with severe beatings as well as imprisonment with their feet fastened in stocks. Humanly speaking, offering Praises to the Lord in the midst of such discomfort would basically be the most irrational thing to do. However, the Lord says, "For My Thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways My Ways." Isa. 55:8(NKJV). According to the Acts of the Apostles chapter 16, Paul and Silas were battered and bruised and imprisoned like common criminals. However, they knew the effect their Praises had on the Most High God: "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them."(vs 25). Surely this was the wrong time to pray and sing hymns of praise to the Lord! Would it not be more convenient to complain and murmur, especially when such treatment was undeserved? Not according to God's Way of thinking: "Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed."(vs 26). Praise always provokes Divine Intervention which throws open the prison doors. Everyone’s chains were loosed by the power of praise. There was also a harvest of souls as the jailer received Christ with his household.

Complaining complicates issues and compounds problems. Praise on the other hand brings God Himself on the scene and eliminates issues and problems. The Scripture declares thus: "Let the High Praises of God be in their mouths and a Two-edged Swordsword in their mouths..."(Ps. 149:6). When you praise God, you exalt Him for His Greatness, prompting Him to show doubters just how Great He really is. Even if you find yourself besieged by a vast army like the Ammonites, Moabites and inhabitants of Mount Seir against the children of Judah, you can rest assured that the Lord will move on your behalf, giving you a comprehensive victory, resulting in "three days of gathering the spoil because there was so much." (2Chron.20:25b)

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your Greatness. There is none to compare with You, O Lord. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings You have perfected Praise, therefore we humble ourselves before You in childlike awe. Thank You, our Lord, in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

MEDITATION:

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail and the fields yield no food. Though the flock may be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my Salvation. The Lord God is my Strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet and He will make me walk on my high hills." Hab. 3:17-19(NKJV).