Get Your Praise On

Praise Defeats the Enemy

I will declare Your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. — Psalm 22:22 NKJV

• One way to drive Satan to distraction, and to overcome him, is through praise of Jesus.

Regardless of whether the enemy is a visible foe in front of us like the scribes and Pharisees or an invisible foe outside of us like the Devil himself or an invisible foe inside of us like depression, praise drives the enemy away. In the very prophecy that describes Jesus’ inmost thoughts and feelings as He hung on the Cross, tortured, bleeding, and dying, the psalmist declared,

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of [Your people]. — Psalm 22:3 NKJV

In other words, He is enthroned — He rules in power, authority, and supremacy — through our praise.

In some supernatural way, praise ushers the authority of God into any given situation. One practical way to maintain your praise is to begin every prayer with praise. First praise God for who He is. Then praise Him for something He has done for you. Start now!

~Pursuing MORE of Jesus

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Praising Jesus Is Contagious!

To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever! — Revelation 5:13

The apostle John gives us a thrilling glimpse into a universal celebration that one day we are going to participate in. He describes four living creatures who surround the throne on which Jesus reigns supreme. These living creatures never stop saying,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come. — Revelation 4:8

While the living creatures proclaim glory, the twenty-four elders fall down and worship. And as the elders praise, millions of angels join in the chorus, singing in a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! — Revelation 5:12

Then John describes the entire universe beginning to roar in the continuous acclamation of Christ as every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea sings, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!”

• Who is praising Christ because you are?

~Pursuing MORE of Jesus

Excerpted with permission from The Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz, copyright Anne Graham Lotz.

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Your Turn

Get your praise on! Whether the wind is at your back and life is going smoothly or you are struggling, suffering, and filled with worry… praise Jesus! Praising God ushers in His presence, tells Him we trust Him, and reminds us that God is in control of everything. Let’s lift our hands and worship Him! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you about praising the Lord! ~ Devotionals Daily