WORSHIP AS WARFARE
I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
Psalm 18:1-3 (NIV)
Every hallelujah is an act of defiance against the darkness.
Brennan Manning
Today’s Scripture reveals one of King David’s most powerful weapons: worship. This is one of many passages in the Bible that connect the idea of victory and battle with praise and worship. It’s as if getting lost in the wonder of God, trusting Him, praising Him, is what gives us the strength to face the battles of life, and more specifically, our battle with the enemy. Satan is…
- The tempter. Worship makes way for the Holy Spirit to give us victory over sin.
- A liar and father of lies. Our worship is a declaration of the truth.
- A murderer. Worship reminds us that Jesus has victory over death.
- The ruler of this world. Worship draws our hearts to the ruler of the universe.
- The god of this age. Worship reminds us that God’s love is eternal.
- The deceiver. Worship realigns our minds with what is true.
Worship is warfare because we aren’t fighting a physical battle, but a spiritual battle. Our faith–expressed through praise and marked by intimacy–reminds the demons that our God reigns. When we give God our attention, Satan loses his ability to have power over us. When we sing songs of praise, the words themselves realign us with what God is up to in this world. Worship reminds hell who’s already won. And it reminds our hearts that, in Christ, we have already won the greatest battle from death to life.
APPLICATION: How will you worship God today? In a song? In words of praise? In reciting Scripture? By reflecting on His promises? However you choose to worship God today, anticipate being filled with the strength that overcomes the enemy.
PRAYER: Father, thank You that when I lift my eyes to You, the enemy loses his grip. Thank You that worship is not weakness but warfare. When fear rises, teach me to sing. When darkness presses in, remind me to praise. You have already triumphed through the cross, and every time I worship, I stand in that finished victory. Lord, silence every voice of accusation and confusion, and fill my heart with thoughts of Your goodness and power. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?