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Don’t Let the Devil Steal Your Praise

David’s showdown with Goliath shows that "thrivers" do not permit anyone or anything, no matter how large or threatening or powerful, to occupy their praise. You’ll recall that the Philistines gathered their army and occupied Sokoh in Judah (1 Sam. 17:1) and that Judah means “praise.” It cannot be repeated often enough that the enemy always wants to occupy your praise—through distraction, intimidation, diversion, conflict, crisis, or whatever it takes. So many people have struggled to praise God during the turmoil of recent events, but they’re forgetting that this is exactly what the enemy wants us to do! 

The devil will use anything and everything to derail your faith. He begins to defeat you the moment he takes hold of your worship. If he can take away your willingness to praise God, then the spiritual warfare will tilt in his favor. The enemies of truth, love, grace, and hope always come after your worship first. It’s the same as a terrorist’s first strike at the source of your power, fuel, and motivation. So cherishing, guarding, and practicing your praise must be a priority in order for you to thrive. 

Do not permit failure to occupy your praise. 

Do not permit fear to occupy your praise. 

Do not permit anxiety to occupy your praise.

If I were a betting man, I would wager that the enemy attempted to occupy your Judah during the pandemic, the economic fluctuation, and all the civil unrest in the recent past. So if you have not already, I dare you to say, “Get out of my Judah! You cannot occupy my praise!” Claim the truth expressed by the psalmist: “The Lord is enthroned in the praises of His people.” (See Psalm 22:3) 

The Bible does not require you to be happy in order to praise God. The Bible does not require you to be smiling and joyful in order to praise the Lord God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. As a matter of fact, sometimes you must choose to praise while you’re crying. Sometimes you praise while you’re wounded. Sometimes you praise while you’re hurting. Sometimes you’re aching and you still have to praise. 

In his poetic songs David often chose to praise God despite how he felt and everything going on around him. He basically said, “I’m broken, I’m wounded, I’m at the bottom of the pit, but I will not refrain from praising you.” If we want to thrive, we must choose to praise with the same fierce determination. Don’t let the devil steal your worship! Don’t allow any obstacle to occupy your praise!