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What exactly does it mean to praise God? 

I’ve seen a lot through my eyes as a worship leader when the anointing of the Holy Spirit is present. I’ve seen people cry desperately, working through difficult seasons and claiming the words they are singing by faith. I’ve seen people receive release and peace through surrender as they lift their hands. I’ve seen people laugh and shout and dance with joy celebrating all the promises fulfilled in their lives, from winning victory over sin to the healing of sickness, to the restoration of a marriage, and even a prodigal coming home. I’ve watched people receive Jesus as their Savior. 

So as a worship leader, I do not take lightly the assignment given to lead people into His presence. How can we not be prepared spiritually to lead with the same anointing? ‘Wait a minute,’ you might be thinking, ‘I’m not a worship leader. I don’t have a microphone or the talent to sing or play an instrument.’ Read Acts 2:47 from the beginning. There is no mention of a stage or a microphone.

So where is your platform? Is it your personal devotional, your family time, your group, or somewhere else? What is your microphone? Is your voice amplified through the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit? 

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus is actually reading from the Old Testament in Isaiah 61. Tucked right in the middle of this passage is a turning point from supernatural praise, to all in anointed worship. This turning point is represented by the comma separating verse 2 and verse 3 (which is where Jesus chose to stop reading Isaiah). 

A reasonable act of worship recognizes and receives the truth of Jesus’ anointed, assigned, and Spirit-filled mission to proclaim the Good News. And although this is a great start, it only becomes anointed worship and all in praise when we find our calling and assignment to go back and rescue and to proclaim that “now is the favorable year of the Lord.”

After the comma, the rest of the passage provides great pictures of how to see, engage, and lead in lifestyle worship. With the knowledge of Jesus’ victory, we can remember and rejoice and encourage others to do the same. We can wipe away, and lead others to wipe away, the ashes of mourning from our heads, replacing them with a crown and garland of victory. We can receive and lead others to receive the oil of a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit and His fruit of joy. 

In some translations of Isaiah 61:3, mantle is translated as garment, and fainting is translated as heaviness. In other words, we can help others put on a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. All in praise is a powerful part of the life of an overcomer. 

Just like God’s promise to rebuild from the ruins and restore the land in the Old Testament, He is rebuilding the ruins of peoples’ lives, raising up something new from devastation, and best of all, breaking the chains for the next generation. 

Today is the last day of the 21-day fast. You did it! What are some things God revealed through your time of fasting?