2 Chronicles 20:21-22,26 AMPC
When he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers to sing to the Lord and praise Him in their holy [priestly] garments as they went out before the army, saying, Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! [22] And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were [self-] slaughtered; [26] On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah. There they blessed the Lord. So the name of the place is still called the Valley of Beracah [blessing].
Reading 2 Chronicles 20 is one of the chapters I run to when it seems there's no way out and circumstances are like a huge army of trouble marching out against me.
Many times I've prayed with King Jehoshaphat "We don't know what to do but our eyes are on you!"
Probably, when under the siege of trouble, the last thing we feel like doing is giving thanks and praise with loud singing - but that is what happened in this chapter.
The singers went out in front of the army singing "Give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and loving-kindness endures forever!"
Praise drowns out the fear of the enemy and exalts the Lord above the problem.
Actually, this lesson has hit my heart afresh this morning - I need to spend more time in thanking God, than bewailing my own problems.
If I'm honest, I'd admit to being a bit on the grumpy side just lately - to my great shame! I've been short of praise and thanks - and it's has shown up in my mood & actions [I'm sure my nearest and dearest will bear me out on this].
The Lord inhabits the praises of His People Psalm 22:3
If this is the case, then the reverse is true, don't you think? If we forget to praise and thank the Lord, we may feel His absence, we shut Him out of our situation.
When we praise God from our hearts, the Lord turns our valley of trouble into a valley of blessing!
Hosea 2:15
I will return her vineyards to her
and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.
She will give herself to me there,
as she did long ago when she was young,
when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Father God, thank you for the timely reminder that praise and thanks is a mighty weapon against the oppression of the enemy. Help me to praise You in my troubled valley until it's turned into a valley of blessing - as only You can do!
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