DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: DECEMBER 6 GOD’S MYSTERIOUS POWER IN PRAISE (1) SCRIPTURE: PSALM 8: 2; 2 CHRONICLES 22: 20; ACTS 16: 25 – 26
There have been thousands of testimonies of people on how praise proved to be embedded with so much mysterious power of God. It is a mysterious power in that, when listening to testimonies of people about how praise brought healings, deliverances and supernatural breakthroughs to them some ordinary mind will be shocked or confused. Many had asked questions if praise is more than prayers due to extraordinary ways praising God had worked miracles, signs and wonders. *When talking about God’s mysterious power in praise, many Christians quickly shift their minds to the miraculous victory God won for King Jehoshaphat in the Old Testament and the delivering of Paul and Silas in the New Testament. Today’s devotional will touch these stories and ends in the second series with two published testimonies of people who got mysterious helps from God through praise.
In 2 Chro. 20: 22, a seemly unbelievable (to the unbelievers in God) story is captured, how God mysteriously defeated associations of enemies of Judah when the people were singing and praising God. The Bible said that “As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir”, who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. Seeing the nature of their song and praise makes God’s intervention on the people of Judah more mysterious. How can just blowing trumpets and playing other music instruments saying “Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth forever” bring defeat on the enemies? See 2 Chro. 20: 21. The story of Paul and Silas followed almost same pattern, except that in their own, they were singing and praising God loudly clapping their chains. Again the Bible has it that as they were singing and praising God, power of God entered the prison by earthquake, destroyed the building to the foundation. The chains on the Apostle’s feet and hands as well as other prisoners were cut in pieces. The Prison authority could not stop the release of Paul and Silas after this happened.
Archbishop David Oyedepo said while commenting on 2 Chro. 20: 17 that: “Praise causes God to fight on your behalf – He takes your place in battle, while you just watch. Praise compels Him to take over the battles of your life.” King David simplified our understanding about God’s mysterious power in praise when he said that “He (God) inhabits the praises of His people.” (Psa. 22: 3). Many Christians who took on praising God when every of their praying efforts seemed ineffective have great testimonies of God’s mysterious power in praise. Archbishop Oyedepo attested to this Bible passage when he said: “It is a well-known fact that God inhabits the praises of His people. So when you live a praiseful life, God’s presence abides with you; and when He abides with you, He compels signs to attend to you.” The beloved in Christ, there is no doubt that praise goes with God’s mysterious power for those who believe in Him. Can we all take on praising God faithfully and sacrificially in this month of December for God to take care of all our problems and enemies?
PRAYER:
HOLY FATHER, I believe that your mysterious powers are embedded in praising you, rain unction of praising you upon me and all Christian brethren in this month of December for spectacular miracles and deliverances in Jesus’ name.
CONTACT US?* You can contact us for prayer requests or discussion through ubasimon341@gmail.com
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