Praise in All Seasons
2 Chronicles 20:13-22 (NIV)
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
When Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming enemy, God's strategy was unconventional: send the worshipers first. As they sang "His mercy endures forever," God set ambushes and delivered victory without a sword being lifted. This teaches us that praise isn't just for mountain-top moments—it's the battle plan for valleys. Whether you're in your best year or worst year, praise keeps you connected to God's faithfulness. In 2009, Pastor Chuck experienced both the joy of new life and the pain of loss, sickness, and financial devastation. But praise changed him. The situation didn't always change, but his heart did. Learn to praise in the good and the bad, because God is worthy in every season. Your circumstances are temporary, but God's character is eternal. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Reflection: Will you commit to praising God regardless of your circumstances this week?
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the Lord.
14 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel. 17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
When Jehoshaphat faced an overwhelming enemy, God's strategy was unconventional: send the worshipers first. As they sang "His mercy endures forever," God set ambushes and delivered victory without a sword being lifted. This teaches us that praise isn't just for mountain-top moments—it's the battle plan for valleys. Whether you're in your best year or worst year, praise keeps you connected to God's faithfulness. In 2009, Pastor Chuck experienced both the joy of new life and the pain of loss, sickness, and financial devastation. But praise changed him. The situation didn't always change, but his heart did. Learn to praise in the good and the bad, because God is worthy in every season. Your circumstances are temporary, but God's character is eternal. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Reflection: Will you commit to praising God regardless of your circumstances this week?
Posted in Daily Devotions
Recent
Archive
2026
February
March
The Roundabout Way: Finding Purpose in Life's DelaysProtected Through the DetourGetting Egypt Out of Your HeartHumbled and Tested in the WaitingOvercoming Fear with FaithDon't Quit - Your Breakthrough is ComingWhen Praise Changes Everything: Finding Victiory in Your Darkest MomentsGod Sees YouThe Turning Point of PraisePraise Changes the AtmospherePraise Births Your FuturePraise in All Seasons
2025
August
Aligning Our Thoughts with God's TruthThe Power of Our WordsChoosing the Better PartRenewing Our MindsHumility and a Christ-Like MindsetChosen for a PurposeOvercoming ObstaclesLiving With PurposeEmbracing Your GenerationBuilding on a Firm FoundationEmbracing BrokennessGod's Presence in our PainFrom Nothing to SomethingDying to SelfPreparing for Rain
September
Encountering Jesus In Our BrokennessThe Power of TransformationBreaking Chains of BondageRestored for a PurposeCommunity in TransformationThe Unshakeable FoundationEmbracing God's Grace in ImperfectionThe Joy of SalvationPersevering Through Church HurtCelebrating God's FaithfulnessFinding Rest In JesusLetting Go of ControlFinding Peace In GodRenewed Strength In The LordGod's Presence in Our StrugglesUnity In ChristOvercoming the World's HatredThe Power of Agreement in PrayerLiving at Peace with OthersTrusting God In Troubled TimesCompassion In Action
October
Rewriting Stories of HopeFaith That Moves MountainsLeaving A LegacyGod's Presence in SufferingGod Uses Broken VesselsOvercoming DiscouragementThe Power of RestorationLiving Stone in God's TempleFrom Brokenness to PurposeLoving God With All Of YouThe Symphony of SelfMinding the GapThe Fruit of a Healthy LifeGrace In The JourneyGod's Compassion in our DarknessThe Power of PresenceRenewing Our MindsFinding Purpose in PainThe God Who WhispersThe Greatest Commandment RevisitedBeyond the MasksListening to the Language of Your SoulThe Revolution of Authentic Living
November
Fearfully and Wonderfully MadeWhen God Meets You In Your NeedJesus Wept - The Humanity of EmotionsThe Rhythm of Solitude and CommunityBoundaries Are Not Barriers to LoveStewarding the TempleThe Wisdom to Seek CounselJesus Knows Your HeartFinding Rest in the CounselorListening for the Counselor's VoiceThe Tools in His ToolboxThe God Who Gives HopeHope and Faith Working TogetherDefeating Anxiety through PrayerThe Holy Spirit's Power to HopeLiving as a Hope DealerNever Stop KnockingFaithful In The FamineThe Expectation AdvantageWhen God Says It's Already YoursThe Reward of Insistent Faith
No Comments