On that day, Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang: “When the leaders in Israel lead, when the people freely volunteer, bless the LORD! Hear, O kings! Listen, O rulers! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.” Judges 5:1-3
In the Book of Judges, God speaks to Deborah, one of my favorite female biblical characters, prophetically and calls on her to deliver the Israelites from the corruption and oppression brought on by the reigning ruler, King Jabin. God gave Deborah a prophetic word for a militant leader named Barak that specifically called him to lead the battle and fight the king’s army. After Deborah and Barak won the battle against King Jabin, Chapter 5 shows how they sang praises in adoration to the Lord for deliverance and victory.
A mighty warrior of God should also be a mighty worshiper. Expressing adoration and reverence for the Lord is the place you will receive strength, strategy, and spiritual sustenance. Worship is also how you should respond to victory. It is a multifaceted way to defeat the enemy. It signifies to Satan who we belong to and shows him he has no hold on us.
Our devotional life must be filled with worship. Even nature worships the Lord. Isaiah 55:12 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” Wow! We were all created to worship God, and in return, we receive holy preparation for the life ahead. Worship changes things. It changes you.
When you are praising God, it is almost impossible to have your focus on anything else. Worship realigns our will and heart to God’s will and heart.
Our eyes are turned toward His light and away from the darkness of despair. That’s what happened for me and will continue to happen when I choose faith over fear. My friends, true worship will always bring resolve, freedom, peace, and rest within our souls.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29
I do not mean you have to be able to sing, join the worship team tomorrow, or even like music to praise the Lord. What I am saying is that worship is powerful, and we must have a heart of worship and learn what it means to authentically express reverence to Him. We serve a mighty and glorious God who deserves all the praise and honor and worship. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Prayer:
Dear Father, thank you for creating me to worship you in spirit and in truth. I pray that my worship can always be an outward expression of what you are doing in the spiritual realm. Thank you for the opportunity for my worship to be used as an outpouring of the Spirit into the atmosphere. Help me to never forget the power of worship.
“It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” John 4:23-24 (MSG)
Written by: Ashley K. Stovall
