Daily Devotional
Praise Before the Victory
“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.’”
2 Chronicles 20:20
April 14, 2022
Ponder This
If you’re in the middle of a problem, begin to praise God, because He says, “The battle is not yours, it’s Mine.” You do have a part in the battle. Your part is praise. And you can’t hide until the battle is over and then praise the Lord. You may think, “Lord, when You’ve done it all, and when You’ve given me the victory, then I’m going to praise You.” But God says, “You’re not going to have any victory until you start praising, until you start singing.” You may naturally respond, “I can’t sing and praise yet because I don’t have any victory yet.”
We are to give praise that comes not after the victory, but before the victory. Why is this? That is ultimate faith—when we begin to praise God before we see the answer. It’s our way of saying, “God, we don’t know how You’re going to do it. That’s none of our business to know. But You’re bigger than this problem. And, therefore, I praise You.”
- What makes it difficult to praise God before He gives victory in a situation or if He never gives victory at all as we wish?
- Why is God worthy of praise, no matter the outcome of our circumstances?
Practice This
Make a list of ways God has provided for you and given you victory in the past. Consider how you might recall these instances as a catalyst for praise in future difficulties.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
