PASTORAL SELF-CARE: Praise is Basic Spiritual Warfare
Did you ever wake up in the morning feeling depressed for no good reason? Of course, lack of sleep, fighting off an infection, poor diet, or any number of other physical issues may be the culprit, but don’t discount the possibility of a spiritual source for your emotional state. The enemy of our spirits likes nothing better than to keep our emotions in bondage by stealing our joy.
How can we help ourselves when we are feeling unaccountably blue? One of the ways God has helped me during those times is through the ministry of Christian music, whether a favorite hymn, praise song, or Bach chorale…anything written to glorify God will do. All have the power to lift our spirits above the realities of our life here on earth.
If you don’t have a radio or other means of playing recorded music, hum or sing a favorite hymn or praise song. In the Old Testament whenever the Jewish people went into battle, they sent their worship leaders ahead of the soldiers to pave the way with hymns of praise. You gather the support of the host of heaven around you when you sing God’s praises.
2 Chronicles 20:22 says, And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed.
Maybe you don’t, can’t, or won’t sing—then start thanking God for all the mercies you have received from him—even if you don’t feel particularly thankful at the moment. If you can’t think of a specific reason to be thankful, try reading a psalm—147, 148, 149, and 150 are all powerful psalms of praise. Try it, and you will find that not only have you gladdened God’s heart, but you have also lifted your own.
It is no accident Nehemiah 8:10b reads,
“Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
The Lord inhabits our praises; it is one way we invite him to draw near.
Debbie Johnston
April 25th, 2008 at 5:21 am
Beautiful post. The significant thing about that passage in 2 Chronicals 20 is when the king and his people reached the point where they said to God “We don’t know what to do, BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU.” And what ensued was a praiseful victory over th enemy. In our emptiness, God works. Thanks for your post.