Psalm 68:1-2 ‘Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.’
DAILY READING; John 18:1-18; 2 Chronicles 26; Psalm 83
In June 2019 Hong Kong witnessed one of the worst crisis in its history. This was the protests over an extradition law made by the Hong Kong government which allowed criminal suspects from Hong Kong to be transferred to China for trials. People in Hong Kong said this law would expose them to unfair trials and violent treatment from the Chinese government.
Christians especially, saw it as a hidden attempt by China to extend its severe restrictions on religion into Hong Kong. Currently the Chinese communist government has been persecuting Christians in China, and Hong Kong Christians believed China was intending to extend the same punitive measures to churches in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong was a British colony for 156 years before it was handed back to China in 1997. Under the British rule, Hong Kong, was a hub for Christian missionaries and is home to about 850,000 Christians and more than 1,500 churches. Though Christians make up only a small proportion of the population, they have long played an important role in the politics of Hong Kong.
And in this protest, their influence was very striking and noticeable. While other people protested in different ways, some even fighting with the police, the Christians turned to praising God. In the midst of the chaos, Christians sang songs of praise that caught the attention of the international media. Especially the hymn ‘Sing alleluia’, which rose continuously from the crowd, has become known as the anthem of the protests.
Taking on an adversary as big as the Chinese Communist Party would have seemed intimidating, but through praise, Hong Kong Christians declared God mightier and bigger than the problem. Some of the Christian protesters were armed with Bibles, and often held hands to pray together.
And eventually they won the victory as the extradition law was suspended and then finally scrapped.
In the midst of difficulties, praise can confront and bring down any enemy, no matter how formidable.
Praise is a spiritual medium through which we transfer our battles to God: Praise has the capacity to crush our toughest and roughest battles in life. Some of the toughest battles in scriptures were won by praise. For instance the walls of Jericho came down at the blast of the trumpet and the shout of praise (Joshua 6) and through praise God took over the battle of Judah, set an ambush for their enemies and gave them total victory (2 Chronicles 20)
When confronted by trials or challenges bigger than you, switching to praise is one way of engaging the help of God. Praise is a platform through which God intervenes in our affairs. Indeed through praise, we prevail where others travail.
God is in our praises because He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). The presence of God that dwelt with the Israelites was the factor that ensured their successful entry into the Promised Land, despite all the bigger nations that opposed them.
Whatever may seem too big for you today, God can handle it. Instead of fretting or worrying, just keep looking unto Jesus, keep looking to God’s Word and keep your switch of praise turned on. By doing so, you are inviting God to take over your battle. And when God’s Presence is engaged through praise, He will arise to scatter all your enemies and give you the total victory.
PRAYER: Lord, please arise for me, so that every enemy confronting me today will be scattered. I thank You Lord that through the mighty manifestation of Your power in my life, my victory is guaranteed in every battle in Jesus Name.
Quote :
The tests you are going through in life today is not for your destruction, it is for your testimony. – WORDBITE 222