Monday, November 28, 2011

November 2011

Thank you to each of you for the part you had in making Thanksgiving a special time.  It was good to see each of you.  We are home and back to the everyday activities.  
For whatever you are facing this devotion is helpful:

Yours For A Song


Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor
 of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks
to the Lord, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the
Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading
Judah, and they were defeated. --II Chronicles 20:21-23

People facing fear have often resorted to song. But for God's people, it's not any
old song. When King Jehoshaphat was confronted by a great force of allied armies,
he had his people fast, pray, and then he assembled the troops... placing the choir
out in front of the army! As they marched, the singers lifted up praise to the beauty
of God's holiness. And as they sang and praised the Lord, the opposition was thrown
into confusion.

Songs and hymns of praise clear the air like nothing else. If you're in any kind
 of spiritual conflict, the best defense is to sing. It's a way of resisting the
 devil. Singing is also the best offense. Songs of praise will confuse the enemy
 and send the devil's hoards hightailing. Amy Carmichael, missionary to India, wrote:
"I truly believe Satan cannot endure the power of song and so slips out of the room...when
there is a hymn of praise. Prayer rises more easily, more spontaneously, after one
has let those wings, words and music, carry one out of oneself into that upper air."

Victory over the enemy can be yours for a song! Sing a hymn or a worship chorus
as you march into your day or wrap up your evening. And if you can't sing, read
one of David's praise psalms out loud. To begin and end the day with God's praise
will do much to chase away dark thoughts, and open the door to peace.

Lord, you are worthy of endless praise. Help me to make room in my thoughts for
the songs that declare your greatness and love before both men and angels.