Half the Battle Sýnishorn

Day 4—The Weapon for War

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in 2 Chronicles 20. This chapter begins with the Moabites and Ammonites coming to fight against King Jehoshaphat. The king and his people cry out to God, who answers their desperate plea with this message: “You will not have to fight this battle.… Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you” (v. 17).

The army heads out to face the enemy, and leading the way aren’t men with swords but men with praise. They sing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). Jehoshaphat could have instructed them to beg God for mercy or favor; instead, he just wants them to worship.

Then the most incredible thing happens: “As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.… When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:22, 24).

You may be dealing with a situation today that is more difficult and overwhelming than anything you have ever faced. And in your darkest hour, it feels impossible to shift your focus away from your problem and on to worshipping God. However, here’s the reason why it is so important to do just that—this is the time when the devil least expects you to do anything. He thinks he has you outnumbered, paralyzed, and defeated. 

What the devil doesn’t want you to know is that you have an incredibly powerful weapon—your tongue. Praise is a weapon of mass destruction to the enemy. King Jehoshaphat and his small army didn’t stand a chance against the Moabites and Ammonites, but when they choose to declare the goodness of God, everything changed. 

Giving praise to God is the very thing that’s going to cause a breakthrough in your life. Why? Because His faithfulness and power are not variables based on the details of a battle. No, they are constants based on who He is—our unchanging, perfect heavenly Father who hears our prayers and responds, “I am with you.” No matter what you’re going through, don’t give up. Keep worshipping. Your worship will become the very thing God uses to defeat the enemy. 

What are some ways you can declare God’s goodness even in the middle of your darkest hour?