Our favorite college team is ready to take the field for the big game’s kick-off. Before that happens, though, the home team band marches onto the field and plays several spirited selections, including the school’s fight song. The band is there to set the tone for the crowd, their own players, and the opponents. Our team may have lost four of its last five games, but the band is here to hype everyone into believing this win belongs to the home team, even before the players engage in the conflict. Before we know it, we find ourselves joining the praise team. 

Modern football teams could have gotten that idea from Jehosaphat’s interesting military strategy in the Old Testament. Jehosaphat was leading his army into the wilderness for a battle against three other armies. But he didn’t place his youngest, strongest, or fiercest fighters on the front line. Instead, he appointed singers to walk ahead of the army. A praise team. 

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.”

~2 Chronicles 20:21 NIV

It always seemed odd that an army had a choir leading them into battle. It doesn’t make sense. Earlier in the story, Jehosaphat and the people were afraid. The size and power of their army paled in comparison to what they faced. Yet, they began by singing.

What they sang might also be more important to note. They sang praises to the Lord, praising Him for all He had been to them. They sang songs of thanksgiving and sang of God’s love. Then something crazy happened. Second Chronicles tells how that worked out for them.

We all face battles in life. Sometimes our struggles threaten to overtake our schedules and minds. That’s when we have a choice. We can complain and whine, repeat our little woe-is-me tune, or sing praises to our Creator and Lord.

As bizarre as it sounds, we should sing praises while in our deep pits, when our enemies attack, and when our circumstances appear bleak. Praise is a weapon. Praising in the middle of our difficult times acts as a true indicator of our faith. We trust and believe, so we sing in our darkest, scariest, and most discouraging times.

We find another example of this in the New Testament when Paul and Silas are in prison, chained and locked behind bars. They could have shared with the other prisoners all the ways they were innocent, expressed their worries, or commiserated with the sadness in their current circumstances. They could have shouted complaints at the guards. But they did none of this. Instead, they sang praises to God.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

~Acts 16:25 NIV

Immediately, as they sang and praised, a huge earthquake broke off their chains and opened the doors of their prison cell.

No matter what we face, we can cry and complain or sing praises. Never doubt the powerful weapon we possess when we praise God. Never underestimate the power we have when we praise. How we approach our battles and overcome our struggles is a choice that belongs to each of us. 

Praise before the victory and when you see no breakthrough in sight. Praise freely and loudly. Keep praise in your heart and just under your breath. Trust praise to change your attitude and the situation. God is able.

If you don’t have an example of praising God in the middle of a challenging time, make that a goal.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for all the ways I can trust You. May my praise be obvious in every situation I face. Help me to sing most when my times are hardest. I trust You to know my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Genre: Nonfiction

Copyright 2025: Joining the Praise Team: Cynthia Mendenhall: All Rights Reserved.