By JeanSkurtz "Let's Just Praise The Lord!"
There's
a song that has been around for over 25 years. Hearing it and singing
it over and over again still brings victory and joy through the Holy
Ghost. It's a song that Russ Taff sang and the Imperial's still sing;
it's called “Praise The Lord”. Those three words when put into action
are powerful and life changing. Praise is truly key in winning
spiritual warfare.
I would like to share a short personal testimony of such a victory in
my life. When I was a teenager I was diagnosed with bipolar depression.
I even tried to take my own life twice before I turned 18. Into
adulthood I allowed life situations and struggles to worry me causing so
much doubt and fear. I spent many years believing I was useless and a
failure. During it all Jesus found me and filled me with His Holy
Spirit (Later on , I was taught and received the precious truth of who
Jesus is, and was re-baptized in Jesus Name). Yet, I was still living
under the cloud of defeat and low self esteem.
One day while I was in church , I was feeling miserable about something
going on in my life at the time, as well as ruminating over my past.
While others around me were singing, clapping, shouting, and praising, I
stood behind the pew crying and praying for the Lord to help me.
Feeling powerless, I sat down and opened my Bible hoping that the Lord
would speak words of wisdom and comfort to lift my spirits. What I
received from the Lord that day would change my outlook on life forever!
In Exodus 17: 9-12 the Israelites fought a battle against the
Amalekites. And the Lord did something quite miraculous. Moses lifted
up his hands until he could lift them no more. His friends, Aaron and
Hur, had to hold Moses's arms up for him. They had noticed an important
pattern in the midst of their battle. Every time Moses' arms were
lowered the Amalekites prevailed. But, every time Moses' arms were
raised the Israelites were victorious!
As I was flipping through the pages of the Bible that morning, the Holy
Ghost redirected me. He said, “Put the Bible down. Stand up and
praise Me! Lift up your hands and sing!”. The Lord had reminded me of
Moses lifting up his arms and winning that battle. I learned that day
that praise is the key to victory. God is bigger than anything that can
come my way. When we give praise we are opening doors for the Lord to
fight the enemy for us! When we praise the Lord we are allowing Jesus
to come in and be our Comforter, our Rock, our Provider, our Healer, our
Strength, our Song. He is everything we need.
“By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Hebrews 13:15. Praise God even when you don't feel like it. When the
devil has you convinced that you are defeated and there is no way out of
a situation praise Him anyhow. That's the sacrifice of praise.
The devil is out in this world trying to take away our joy in the Lord
(1 Peter 5:8). He is seeking to devour God's people. Years of habitual
thinking and familiar feelings still affect me sometimes. But, now I
have a choice and so do you. Just like Moses, we have the choice to
accept defeat and lower our hands because of heaviness; or, we can raise
them and win battles in the Name of Jesus Christ. Just like Moses, we
have friends who are there to help lift them up through prayer. I
choose to sing “...so, lift up the mighty shield of faith for battle
must be won. We know that Jesus Christ is risen so the works already
done. Praise the Lord...”!