Worship Is My WeaponIhe Atụ

One of the greatest battles we face as believers is discouragement. We become discouraged when we face unmet expectations: the relationship ends, the promotion wasn’t achieved, the school didn’t accept us, and the list goes on. To get discouraged means to remove courage. When we lack courage we get paralyzed by fear and worry. The result is a detour in our destiny. We live in a place of delay, never moving forward into the purpose and plans God has for our lives.

A few years ago, our church was in the middle of a building project when the city shut us down. It was a major undertaking for us and this was a major delay. At the same time, my friend lost their newborn baby. We were all devastated. During this season, I felt like my life was being overtaken by discouragement. I had a choice. I could sit back and embrace it or I could take the same action that David took throughout the Psalms. I chose David’s process.

Discouragement will inevitably come, but we have a choice when it does. What do we do when we become discouraged? One of the greatest weapons we have when facing discouragement is the one David excelled in—worship. The psalmist David wrote, “Praise the Lord, oh my soul.” It’s in the time of worship that we “forget not all his benefits.” When we are reminded of what God has done, we remove the frustration of what we don’t see happening. Worship is a weapon that enables us to focus on how good God is instead of how discouraging life can be.

What benefits can we focus on that we receive from God in the midst of discouraging seasons?

David goes on to name them:

- “Who forgives all your sins"-Forgiveness

- “Heals all your diseases"-Healing

- “Redeems your life from the pit"-Redemption

- “Crowns you with love and compassion"-Purpose

If you are facing discouragement today, fight the battle with the weapon of worship. Praise God for what he has done, and watch how your discouragement is turned into courage, your fear is turned to faith, and your anxiety is turned into peace. When we worship our focus moves from what is not happening to what God has already done.

- Pastor Aaron Burke, Radiant Church, Tampa