look at the effect of praise. 2 chronicles 20.22 (tlb), at the moment they began to sing and to praise, the LORD caused the armies of ammon and moab and mount seir to begin fighting among themselves. they destroyed each other.
there is power in thanking. there is power in praising. there is power in expecting. GOD confused the enemy and they started fighting each other and killing themselves. they turned on each other and destroyed themselves while the israelites looked on. they were thanking GOD in advance.
here’s the question: you know that insurmountable problem in your life? the one that the odds are stacked against you? when are you going to start thanking GOD for taking care of it? after it’s all solved? that’s gratitude. how about now? while you’re in the problem, while you see it coming at you, thanking GOD now. that is faith. thanking GOD in advance.
look at the results. verses 25 & 26 (tlb)), so jehoshaphat and his men went off to carry off the plunder and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and articles of value – much more than they could carry away. [there were so many spoils of war they couldn’t carry it away. GOD wants to bless your life so much more than you can even handle] there was so much plunder that it took them three days to collect it. and on the fourth day they assembled in the valley of beracah where they praised the LORD and this is why it’s called the valley of beracah to this day.
“beracah” is the hebrew word for praise and this is where GOD wants you to live. in the valley of blessing. it means blessing and praise. GOD wants to bless your life. and HE wants you to live in that valley of blessing, in that valley of praise.
how do you get there? thanking GOD in advance.
verses 29-30 (nlt), when the surrounding kingdoms heard that the LORD himself had fought against the enemies of israel, the fear of GOD came over them. so jehoshaphat’s kingdom was at peace, for GOD had given him rest on every side.
wouldn’t you like that to be true in your life? living in rest and have peace on every side – the family side, the career side, the financial side, the social side, the physical side, the sexual side – you have peace on every side?
when you allow GOD to solve your problems, it also becomes a testimony to unbelievers and the world takes notice when the CHRISTian lives by faith. and GOD loves to demonstrate HIS power in those who will just believe HIM and expect HIM to work in their lives.
are you facing a difficult circumstance this week? you feel like the odds are against you? you think that problem is overwhelming? what do you do? you turn to GOD. JEHOVAH NISSI, the GOD who defends you.
just a thought from the front porch…
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