Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him, then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:7
As I began to meditate on and memorize this passage the Lord reminded me of the power of song…in a fresh way. The end of the verse says, “….and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
The Battle is Not Ours
The question I considered was, “How do we apply this in our lives?”
In my seeking, the answer came in several ways that brought me so much encouragement and truth I felt compelled to share it with you here.
The battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you….After consulting the people, 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.
2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, 21-22
Wow! The Lord has used this powerfully in my life to remind me that we can guard our souls from the enemy with songs of praise and gratitude!
Don’t miss the fact that in the verses above the choir was on the front lines of the battle, not armed swords or javelins, but with song. The soldiers never lifted their swords to defend against the vast numbers aligned with the enemy, for the Lord said, “You will not have to fight this battle!”
When the Enemy Attacks
I was reminded of a time in my own life when the nature of the battle and my right role in it first became personal and real to me.
I was on a mission trip to Ethiopia in 2011 with my daughter, Abigail, who was 11 at the time. The day had been full of spiritual blessings. His Spirit was moving and working to bring his people together, and to bring others into the kingdom of heaven; both conditions that provoke the enemy of our souls.
As we lay down to sleep, prayer erupted among those awake in the adjoining room. I could not discern most of the words, yet I could sense the Spirit of the Lord being lifted up and praised for all his goodness. It was a wonderful blessing to lay there listening to our Father being praised. And when African people break out in praise of Jesus, it is indeed awesome to behold.
Some time later, after falling asleep, still basking in this glory, I awoke with a start and opened my eyes, sensing the undeniable presence of evil and darkness.
Isn’t it just like the enemy to come in the darkness, in the still of the night, following a time of spiritual blessing? Yes, yes, and yes!
I had never experienced anything like this in my “normal” Christian life at home. And he went right for the heart of my heart: my child. The enemy whispered to my heart that he desired to have my daughter, and that I was foolish for bringing her with me to a foreign country to tell others about our Savior. I recognized a nugget of truth in those whispers (the enemy desires to have our children), but I knew the rest were lies.
I immediately knew to pray, but I also was very afraid. I vacillated between fear and knowing. I wrestled with the idea of getting up and going to wake others to come and pray with me. Again the enemy whispered lies to me, “If you leave her she will be dead when you return.”
I don’t know how long the battle went on, but I do know the Lord was fighting for me. He knew my struggle, he knew the enemy was attacking, and he allowed it. I really had no idea (outside of praying) how to fight this battle…but unexpectedly the Holy Spirit led me to sing, there in the dark.
In case you don’t know me, you need to know that I can’t carry a tune to save my life. The truth is it really didn’t matter. It was not my idea to sing, it was the power of the Holy Spirit, giving me what I needed, arming me in the battle. He was answering my prayers, feeble though they were. I sang a song I hadn’t sung in a long time, a powerful song it was:
Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever; he sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood. He loved me ‘ere I knew him, and all my love is due him. He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
As my voice broke the silence of the night and the word “Jesus” came out of my mouth, the enemy had to leave; I knew it because complete peace came over me.
Yes, Satan’s army is powerful, and he can bring a spirit of oppression and darkness; he is indeed the father of lies (John 8:44). But JESUS IS VICTORIOUS; he has already won. And he will fight for you.
Sing a New Song
How do we overflow with thankfulness? How can you apply this to your life?
Remember that the battle is the Lord’s.
Remember that you can guard your soul from the enemy with songs of praise and gratitude.
So sing praises to him when you rise, and when you walk along the way, and when you go to work, and when you are at home. (Deuteronomy 6:5-9)
The enemy cannot stir up bitterness and dissension, gossip, anger, envy, strife when a heart is full of gratitude, when a heart sings praises to the Lord often.
So sing with all your heart to King Jesus. He is worthy of our praise every day!
Meet the Author: Cindi Jacobs
Cindi Jacobs is a passionate follower of Jesus, a wife, and mother of two children. She thrives on helping others maximize their full potential in Christ and longs to see others know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Her life verse is:
“But if I say, “I will not mention Him, or speak anymore in His name,” His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed I cannot! Jeremiah 20:9
Faith Runner 