Open Heaven Daily Devotional 12 February 2022
TOPIC: Praise Moves God
MEMORISE: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” – (1 Peter 2:9)
READ: Acts 16:25-26 (KJV)
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Open Heaven 12 February 2022 MESSAGE:
Praise is probably the most potent weapon of any kind in the whole universe. Apart from the fact that God created man primarily for the purpose of showing forth His praise (Isaiah 43:21), it is capable of moving God into action beyond our wildest imagination.
A leper praised God in Matthew 8:1-4; he was instantly healed of his leprosy. David the shepherd boy wrote poems and sang praises to God; the Lord miraculously appointed him to sit on the throne of Israel. The army of Israel sang praises to God and the wall of Jericho fell flat before them in Joshua 6:20.
King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel praised God in the beauty of His holiness in (2 Chronicles 20:20-25), and God set an ambush against their enemies to destroy them completely. Paul and Silas sang praises to God in the prison; Acts 16:25-26 says “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed”. Such is the power of praise. As you praise God today, the hosts of heaven will move on your behalf, in Jesus’ name.
We can be provoked to praise God-like in the above examples by learning a few things from them. They were motivated to praise God by three important factors: the knowledge of God, the vision of God, and the past miracles that God had done in their midst. With our focus on these three factors, the power of praise will always fill our hearts. Above all, praise usually leads to divine intervention.
People are lifted by praising God. Praise always turns problems to stepping stones, tests to testimonies and trials to triumphs. When people praise God, obstacles give way to miracles, attacks give birth to attractions and disappointments give way to divine appointments.
You must note, however, that you can only be qualified to praise God acceptably if you are genuinely born again and consecrated to Him. Surrender your life to Jesus today if you haven’t done so and never stop praising Him from now. God bless you.
ACTION POINT:
Father, please let the power of praise begin to manifest in my life, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 6-7
HYMN 17 – O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
1.O Lord my God!
When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all
The worlds Thy hands hath made
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow’r thro’out
The universe displayed.
CHORUS:
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God to Thee;
How great Thou art,
How great Thou art!
2.When through the woods
And forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;
3.And when I think
That God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die,
I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross,
My burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died
To take away my sin.
4.When Christ shall come
With shout of acclamation,
And take me home
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,
My God, how great Thou art!
