Thanksgiving: A Warriors’ Weapon

After talking it over with the people, Jehoshaphat appointed a choir for God; dressed in holy robes, they were to march ahead of the troops, singing,

Give thanks to God,
His love never quits.

As soon as they started shouting and praising, God set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir as they were attacking Judah, and they all ended up dead. The Ammonites and Moabites mistakenly attacked those from Mount Seir and massacred them. Then, further confused, they went at each other, and all ended up killed.

1 Chronicles 20:21-23 MSG

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is in 2 Chronicles 20 about King Jehoshaphat and how praise with a thankful heart won the battle. Here are the “cliff notes”:

• The nation of Judah is surrounded by enemies ready to destroy them.
  • My enemies may not be the same, but I sense the attack.
• King Jehoshaphat calls the people to fast and pray. “God, we don’t know what to do but we are looking to you for help.”
  • My first instinct is not to pray but retaliate and defend in my own strength. “God, help me look to you first.”
• God speaks, “Don’t be afraid, the battle is not yours, but mine!”
  • Are you sure I’m not supposed to be fighting this one on my own? Really! When will I learn?
• Jehoshaphat sends the worshipers out in front of the army – singing, praising and thanking God.
  • It seems useless and vulnerable not to arm myself with weapons. Oh – wait a minute. Are you trying to teach me that praise with thanksgiving IS my weapon?
• At the very moment the worship starts the enemy armies are disoriented and begin attacking each other.
  • My possible skirmish or trial may collapse before I even reach the combat zone.
• By the time Judah reaches the battlefield every enemy is dead.
  • It doesn’t matter the words; I can sing anything with my focus on God and the praise with thanks shoots forward in time and space and can dissolve the conflict before I even get there.

How many of my daily battles, stresses, and trials could be completely disintegrated if I sent singing, praise and thanksgiving in first?

Pick Up Your Weapon

Be proactive in life’s battles. Start singing. Start praising God. Give thanks to God for his love never quits!

Here are some ideas that will shoot praise and thanksgiving into the atmosphere and destroy the enemy’s strategies against you:

• Put together a playlist - or a few of them with different focuses (proclamation, warrior, faith building).
• Turn on the music first thing in the morning and hum along as you get ready for your day.
• Turn on the "give God glory" music in your car. Crank up the volume and let the other drivers around you wonder what you are doing as your whole body responds to the words. (WARNING Keep one hand on the steering wheel and eyes wide open!)
• Add a little jump to your step as you are working out with your “warrior” playlist.
• Put an extra stomp into the vacuum cleaner as you sing your prayer with a thankful heart.