OUR DAILY BREAD : POWER IN PRAISE

[cimi]

SUNDAY MAY 17


POWER IN PRAISE

READ:
2 Chronicles 20:21
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Praise the LORD,
for His mercy
endures forever.
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Willie Myrick was kidnapped from his driveway when he was 9 year old. For hours, he traveled in a car with his kidnapper, not knowing what would happen to him. During that time, Willie decided to sing a song called "Every Praise." As he repeatedly sand the words, his abductor spewed profanity and told him to shut up. Finally, the man stopped the car and let Willie out__unharmed.

As Willie demonstrated, truly praising the Lord requires us to concentrate on God's character while forsaking what we fear, what is wrong in our lives, and the self-sufficiency in our hearts.

The Israelites reached this place of surrender when they faced attackers. As they prepared for battle, King Jehoshaphat organized a choir to march out in advance of their enemy's army. The choir sang, "Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever" (2 CHRON. 2021). When the music started, Israel's enemies became confused and destroyed each other. As the prophet Jahaziel had predicted, Israel didn't need to fight at all (v.17).

Whether we're facing a battle or feeling trapped, we can glorify God in our hearts. Truly, "The LORD is great and greatly to be praised" (PS. 96:4).

** Dear God, You are holy and good. I worship You today despite the problems
that cloud my vision of You. Let my soul tell of Your glory forever. _____________________
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Worship is a heart overflowing with worship to God.

****************************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Chronicles 20:15-22***************************
15 And [the Spirit of the LORD said through Jahaziel],
"Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the
LORD to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because
of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.

16 Tomorrow go down against them.... 17 You will not need
to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and
see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and
Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out
against them, for the LORD is with you."

18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the
ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed
before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. 19 Then the Levites
of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the
Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices
loud and high.

20 So they rose early in the morning and went out into the
Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood
and said, "Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem:
Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established;
believe His prophets, and you shall prosper." 21 And when he
had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should
sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness,
as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the
LORD, for His mercy endures forever."

22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount
Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.