Turning Praise into a Prayer Weapon
In a talk I gave to a room of grandmothers on Tuesday, I started out sharing the words of this song: “I Raise a Hallelujah”. The song was written by recording artists and Bethel music leaders, Jonathan and Melissa Helser when their friends’ two-year-old son was airlifted to intensive care and not expected to live through the night. Jonathan started writing this song when the hopes of a miracle started to disappear.
Jonathan shared: “We sent a text message of this song to Jaxon’s dad and He played it over and over for Jaxon. Within the next few weeks, we saw a miracle and Jaxon fully recovered and he is alive and well now. This song has now become an anthem of victory for the way God fights for us when we raise our hearts and our songs to Him.”
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies.
I raise a hallelujah. Louder than my unbelief.
I raise a hallelujah. My weapon is a melody.
I raise a hallelujah. Heaven comes to fight for me.
I’m gonna’ sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna’ hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive.
I raise a hallelujah with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah. I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah. Fear, you lost your hold on me
I share that song today because it is what should be our first line of defense when we face challenges for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. When the world is caving in around us – what do we do? We increase the size of OUR GOD! Just like Mary, the mother of our Lord did. She could have caved when she looked at the size of what she was facing: unwed, pregnant without a man, her reputation, Joseph’s disgrace and shame. Instead, she increased the size of her God when she belted out: “My soul MAGNIFIES the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:46)
And what did King Jehoshaphat do in 2 Chronicles 20:21 when His people were surrounded with the enemy forces? “And he (Jehoshaphat) consulted with the people and then appointed singers for the Lord and those praising Him in holy attire as they went before those equipped for battle saying, ‘Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.”
We, too, have options when we get heart-wrenching reports about issues our children and grandchildren are facing. We can cave under the weight of it all. OR, we FIRST make God larger than the circumstances.
We turn our praise of our GREAT, SUPREME, ALL-in-ALL God into intercessory prayer weapons. First, let me tell you what not to do … don’t focus on the seemingly overwhelming forces of darkness coming against you and your family’s lives. It gives the enemy the advantage when we first succumb to fear and anxiety.
Yes, we have an enemy. Scripture tells us to “Be sober and watchful, because your adversary the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Note how Peter describes that the devil walks about LIKE a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
That tells us the devil, in classic deception mode, masquerades as an intimidating roaring lion (when he is defeated and disempowered) and that he is seeking whom he may devour. That implies that we have the right to tell him: “No, you may not devour my life or my family’s lives!”
Our God-centered praise in the presence of our enemies agrees with the unchanging nature of God and disagrees with the lies of the enemy. Focusing entirely on God and praising Him negates the enemy’s lies. That’s what Mary did. That’s what King Jehoshaphat did. And, that’s what you and I do, too!
I’m raising a hallelujah! How about you?