Open Heaven 24 November 2022
MEMORISE: “And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” – 2 Chronicles 20:22 (KJV)
BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 20:22-27 (KJV)
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the Lord: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.
27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the Lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies.
Read yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional here
A pastor in The Redeemed Christian Church of God shared the testimony of a miracle God performed during a wedding in one of our parishes. Just as the bridegroom was about to sign the register, he heard someone call his name and as he answered, he fell and died. All the pastors in the vestry immediately gathered and began to pray for him, but the longer they prayed, the colder he became. The most senior pastor amongst them then remembered that I had taught them often to try praise whenever prayer seems to be failing. Within a short time of praising God, the bridegroom came back to life.
The people of Judah had only started to praise God when He set an ambush against their enemies. The enemies that were coming to trouble King Jehoshaphat and his people were numerous in number, but the Bible says in 2 Chronicles 20:22:
And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
The people of Judah had been praying, but nothing had happened. Now, instead of going against the enemy with physical weapons of war like swords, spears and shields, they came against them with the weapon of praise. If I stand before the gates of heaven and the angels refuse to open them to me (God forbid), I will start to praise God. I know that before I have called God all the beautiful names I know Him to have, He would tell one of His angels to open the gate for me. Praise opens doors that even prayer may not have been able to open.
If you have been praying about something and you are yet to receive your request, try praise today. When you praise God, He will surely respond.
Joshua and the army of Israel used praise to pull down the walls of Jericho in Joshua 6:20. If you have been praying for so long about a matter, try praise now and you would be surprised at the wonderful results God Almighty will give to you. Try praise.
PRAYER POINT: What is that matter you have been struggling with? Start praising God over it now.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 19-20
Thank you for studying today’s Open Heaven – Try Praise – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Open Heaven 24 November 2022
