Praise Him

” Praise Him Advance “
By Alicia Ricard

Right now, there are prayers we’ve all carried in our hearts for what feels like forever. Maybe your children are far from God, or there are strain relationships in your family that steal the peace from your home. Maybe it’s the financial pressure that weighs so heavily, creating an uneasy tension in the air. Those are the very things we’ve whispered to God, saying, “Lord, if You would just do this, I’ll praise You forever.”

But here’s the truth: without realizing it, we often tuck away our best praises, saving them for the moment God answers our prayers. It’s easy to thank Him when we are on the receiving end of the blessing of God. But faith calls us to do something far greater—to send up our praises before the breakthrough comes.

In 2 Chronicles 20, we find an incredible example of this. King Jehoshaphat of Judah faced a massive enemy army—an impossible battle he could never win on his own. Overwhelmed, he prayed, fasted, and gathered the nation to seek God. Then God gave them this promise: “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

(2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV).

Instead of sending soldiers to the frontlines, Jehoshaphat did something that made no sense to anyone else—he sent worshipers to lead the way. The singers went ahead of the army, praising God and saying, “Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever.” (2 Chronicles 20:21). As they worshipped, God began to work. The enemy armies turned on each other and were completely defeated. By the time Judah arrived, there was no battle to fight—only blessings to gather (2 Chronicles 20:22-25).

We may not be fighting a physical enemy, but we are all in the midst of a spiritual battle. This story reminds us of the power of praising God in advance—not by pretending our struggles don’t exist, but by trusting the One who fights for us.

This is your moment to step out in faith: worship God before you see your child return to Him, praise the King of Kings before your loved one is freed from addiction, and shout for joy before the chaos, heartbreak, and frustration give way to hope.

Remember, the battle isn’t yours to fight—it belongs to the Lord. Lay it all at His feet, trust Him completely, be at peace and lift your praise before the breakthrough. As you do, get ready to walk into the victory that God has already prepared for you.

The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14 (KJV)

(Information from: Ladies Prayer Intl Newsletter – UPCI Ladies Ministries – ladiesprayerinternational-aol.com@shared1.ccsend.com)