Need a Victory? Worship God.

Sometimes this life can wear me out.  You?  I begin to feel the weight of the burdens assigned to this life: work, keeping a house, meal planning, kids, grocery shopping, bill paying, discipline, church work, the list goes on.  The swirling dust of the world begins to choke me.  I begin to feel defeated.  I need a victory over the darkness I feel creeping in.  Do you ever feel that way?

In times like this we need to worship God.  There are many ways to worship God, but today I am referring to praise through singing.  Now, this may bring about images of church services or jamming out in your car (I often wonder if my kids know what the radio sounds like without me singing along to it).  These are good, but let’s break this wide open to understand some of the true power that can be released when we sincerely worship God.  Let me tell you a true story that happened long ago.  This story is found in 2 Chronicles chapter 20. 

Jehoshaphat was king of Judah and was facing a huge problem; a HUGE army in fact.  Jehoshaphat had gotten word that an army of multiple countries was coming his way to make war with him and the people of Judah.  They were vastly outnumbered and things looked bleak.  The king sought help from the Lord.  He ordered a fast and gathered the people of the nation together at the temple courtyard in Jerusalem.  Jehoshaphat prayed to God, (see verses 6 – 12).  The final lines of the prayer: “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  (That last line is epic.)

While families stood together before the Lord, God spoke through a man named Jahaziel.  He told King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah not to be afraid of this vast army, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” (v. 15).  After this the people praised and worshiped God.

The time came for the men of Judah to move out toward their enemy:

“And when [Jehoshaphat] had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.’  And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.  For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.  When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped.” - 2Chronicles 20:21-24

The worshipers were placed at the head of the army to praise God!  When they began to sing, God acted and caused their enemies to fight against each other.  By the time the army of Judah arrived, all were dead; that massive army of multiple countries was destroyed.  God had fought the battle for them just as he said he would.

Worship from a surrendered heart is undeniably powerful; God’s word provides the proof.  When you praise and sing to God in sincerity it causes your heart to move nearer to God’s heart.  Psalms 100:2 tells us to “Come into his presence with singing!” We gain access to God through our worship of him!

Worship is how we show our adoration for our God; it is a time of expression of his worthiness and greatness.   It reminds us of our desperate need for him - worship places God back in his proper place as Lord of our life. 
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Ladies, I want you to remember this power the next time you begin to choke on life.  Begin worshiping God with a sincere heart - knowing that your words are reaching his ears and that he is working in your life and in your heart as you praise him.  He is drawing you nearer to himself as you exalt him - now that is victory!