"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).
Being caught in rush hour traffic in a bustling North Eastern city of the USA some time ago, I noticed that despite the gridlock involving 5 to 6 lanes on the general highway in which I was, the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane was moving smoothly. Only vehicles with more than one person are authorized to travel the HOV lane. As I was musing over this, the Lord opened my understanding that the general lanes I was is like the incessant petition, requests, and supplications of the people of this world to Heaven. My understanding was further quickened to realize that the HOV lane is the praise and worship lane which very few people travel on. And surely, this is the lane that will get us to our destination fast. Below are some spiritual truths about praising God:
Praise Refreshes God: Praise is refreshing to God. Genuine praise of God from sanctified lips and hearts arouses God and pleases Him. The one certain way His creation blesses Him is by offering Him praise and worship. He created us to give Him pleasure (Revelation 4:11). The Bible says that the generous person will prosper, and whoever refreshes others will be refreshed (Proverbs 11:25, NIV). We are refreshed as we refresh God with our praise. Our hearts, families, communities, and our entire existence are touched by Heaven as we effusively and continuously praise God.
Praise Precedes Victory: Praise is one of the weapons of warfare of the Christian which Apostle Paul says is not carnal or ordinary (2 Corinthians 10:4). King Jehoshaphat and Judah were besieged by three powerful kings who were determined to totally annihilate them. On seeking the Lord, He gave them an unconventional battle plan - that singers praising Him should lead the soldiers to the war. An army to be led by a choir! The result goes thus: “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). Praise stirs God to action to fight on behalf of those praising Him.
Praise Accelerates Victory: Praise in the spiritual realm can be likened to the autobahn in Germany. The autobahn is a highway in Germany where drivers are free to drive with no enforceable speed limits except in few designated areas. It isn’t unlikely to see German produced 500 horsepower BMWs and Mercedes’ cruising at 130miles per hour and more. Incessant and continuous praise accelerates response from heaven. Switching to praise after a heart rending supplication to God opens the heaven over the believer. Do you have unfulfilled dreams, goals and aspirations in 2013? If yes, designate this last month of December your month of praise. As you begin to wholeheartedly praise the Almighty, you will notice remarkable changes in your circumstances.
Praise Releases His Glory: The glory of God is His manifest presence. It was that glory that came into the jail cell where Paul and Silas were praising God even though they were bound in shackles. This glory caused an earthquake that left the prison doors open and everyone’s chains loosed (Acts 16:25-27). It was this same glory that was shown to Moses after God hid him in the cleft of the rock. The residues of this glory after it clears amongst several other wonderful things are always signs, wonders and miracles. The glory of God is synonymous to His goodness (Exodus 33:18-19). May you experience that glory in this season in Jesus name!
CONCLUSION: To experience the wonders of God, praise which is the atmosphere of heaven must be present in our mouths, homes, churches, communities, etc in an increasing degree and measure. This praise oozing from hearts that has been cleansed by the blood of Jesus will rise up as a sweet smelling savor to God. For anything to be acceptable in the courts of heaven, it has to be wrapped in the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-21). Are you washed by the blood of Jesus? If no, accept Him into your heart today as Lord and Savior.
Ade(Gboyega) ESAN
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