Cease your striving, and know that He is God!

Right now in the world, "chaos" seems to be the best word to describe the current events unfolding before our eyes and ears. Earthquakes, tsunamis, wars, are the big obvious tremblings on the earth. But there are also social and political wars attempting to trample out the very belief in us that our Creator God is alive and good and that our Savior Jesus Christ is coming again. As a mother, I look at what's happening and can easily give in to anxiety and fear of what's to come upon us. And with the prophesies found in the book of Revelation, I know the church as a whole, across the whole world, will experience persecution like we've never known...while we hold unswervingly to the great Hope that our God wins the war.

Our God wins! Our God is greater than the enemy who stands to oppose Him and oppose us who believe in Him. I get so excited to really enter into the praise and lifting up of our God! I love declaring the greatness of Him in my home and with the larger church. It catapults me into real faith, not something conjured up by emotions, but something powerful and effective. Sometimes it's proclaiming faith in the Lord by speaking, but mostly the church is at its strongest when we are declaring his praises in song together. I know God has created us this way.

I've always had in my mind as I lead worship, that in the Old Testament, singers often went first before a battle. The singers went first! What a crazy idea. With this fact comes several questions. Did they wear armor? Were they just out on the front lines, vulnerable to the oncoming attacks from the enemy? Were they seen as part of the army? And what did they sing? This last question, can be easily answered in scripture.

In 2 Chronicles chapter 20, King Jehoshaphat was coming against a large enemy army. He had the whole nation of Judah come together in worship and praise of God before they marched out. And then before the battle, he "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.'" And the Lord won the battle, by turning the enemy into confusion they killed themselves instead of fighting Judah! 

Darlene Zschech, a well-known worship leader and pastor in Australia wrote a book, Extravagant Worship. She has become one of the people I look up to the most, and fully respect. She writes in the second chapter,

When we, God's people, come into His presence with thanksgiving and praise, warfare is waged against our enemies, and our battles are won by the supernatural power of God. In the face of challenge and persecution, God's people are to unite and praise Him. The Enemy has no chance of winning against people who are consumed with praising God. There is no victory against those who rejoice in God's great glory. 

Later she defines praise, and distinguishes it from other types of worship.

Praise is not a "happy-clappy" song. Priase is not the fast songs before the nice, slow worship songs. Praise is a declaration, a victory cry, proclaiming faith to stand firm in the place God has given you. Praise is a proclamation that the Enemy's intent to plunder you will not rock you. Praise declares that you will not be moved by the Enemy's attempt to snatch you away.

In this time of constant battles, we as God's people cannot afford to keep from singing God's praise. It must become a continuous occurrance; within our personal battles, singing loudly with our children, and singing together as the Church...declaring the victory of our great God in the midst of an intimidating Enemy. We have so many unknowns before us and these unknowns can back us into the corner of doubt and fear. This is the time to live in the wonder of our God, who can handle every impossibility in our sight, and can make a way through the chaos to bring peace to His people.