Praise HIM in the Storm

I received an article from a woman whom I regard with the highest respect and the dearest fondness. She is a real woman of prayer. She is wise, loving, and a woman I would be happy to imitate! As she has been encouraging me during some of my struggles she directed me an article which I felt should be shared with all of you. It is an article sent via email to her from Bridge Builders International Leadership Network. I am not familiar with that organization but I enjoyed this email article.


Chuck Peirce wrote this about what he believe the Lord was saying to him about the spiritual battles he and others faced:
"The confrontation of the enemy is at hand. You must be filled with praise to enter into that conflict ahead. War is stirring in your midst. War is rising. Unless I rise and inhabit your praises, you will not be able to praise in the midst of the conflicts ahead. I am calling you into a place and I am going before you so that I am waiting to give you victory. I will establish Myself in your midst. When your conflicts arise, praise Me and I will assure you of victory in your wars ahead."

Oh that really strikes me as Dustin and I are engaged in battles on many different fronts right now. As we have been praying for our son in Ethiopia and asking the LORD to open doors for us to bring aid and comfort to anyone He may desire to place us into contact with I realize that there are forces of oppression which in essence those prayers are fighting against. When we are asking to join in God's work it is most assuredly the best way to find ourselves engaged against the enemy. Whenever we are attempting to work for the good of others we can be sure we are working against the enemy of their soul and ours, the devil. should we then be surprised that
“we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Eph 6:12).

The article seeks to remind believers of this:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (II Cor. 10:4). I believe the Lord would have us remind you today, that in whatever battle you are facing (whether it be in the area of finances, health, or relationships), praise is a powerful weapon against the enemy!

The whole concept of praising God in the midst of the battle is not one which is hard for me to visualize. We have many a story in scripture of God's children engaged in physical warfare. We see how the Lord gave them faith and so delivered people like David and Jonathan from their enemies. Those stories are not only true in the physical realm but also true in the spiritual realm.

I am interested to learn how praising Him changes circumstances and grows my faith.