I know a lot of people who are beginning to struggle mightily with the quarantines and social distancing caused by COVID-19. Nerves are growing short. Tempers are beginning to flare. In the city which I live, the most increased occurrence in crime over the last month has been a spike in domestic violence.
This is unsustainable. We need a new perspective. We need an attitude of praise.
This past Sunday, Cr. Crawford Loritts, the incomparable senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, GA, spoke on the power of praise in the midst of COVID-19. His focal passage was God’s deliverance of Judah from 2 Chronicles 20. You can watch the full message by clicking HERE.
Crawford is a dear friend and always speaks with the utmost moral authority. His voice and message have consistently been a stabilizing component in my life during difficult times. These times are no different. If you are not already involved with an online service, I cannot recommend enough that you go to Fellowship’s site at 11:00 AM EST on Sundays.
Also, his book Leadership as an Identity: The Four Traits of Those Who Wield Lasting Influence, is the answer I give when asked what is the best leadership book I have ever read. If you do not have a copy, click HERE and order copies for you and your staff.
The following are 7 Benefits Of Praise During The Coronavirus COVID-19 as provided by Crawford:
- Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God.
- Praise brings us to a place of humility.
- Praise makes the enemy run.
- Praise leaves no room for complaining.
- Praise makes room for God’s blessing.
- Praise invites God’s presence.
- Praise also paves the way for God’s power and brings refreshment to our hearts and minds.
The following are 25 additional quotes about The Power of Praise I captured from Crawford’s incredible message:
- We fear what we see and we don’t trust what we can’t see. Often God uses uncertainty to cultivate praise.
- Fear and dread is often the prerequisite of praise.
- Fear drove the leaders and people to seek God. v. 3-4
- Jehoshophat’s second response was to seek the Lord.
- God is using the COVID-19 to get the attention of the entire world. But perhaps He is speaking directly to followers of Jesus Christ.
- Fasting in the Scriptures is a sign of our desperation for God.
- Fear drove them to embrace their powerlessness. v. 5-12
- Memory is a wonderful thing.
- This pandemic has revealed we are weaker than we thought. We don’t have as many options as we thought. Now is the time to stop bragging about how competent you are and you can’t solve this by yourself.
- The key to deliverance is the eradication of pride… Embrace the reality that I am needy. God has my full attention and I need God’s full attention.
- Their fear and dread drove them to listen to God. It’s amazing how attentive we are when we can’t help ourselves.
- God spoke to a Levite because the key to their deliverance was worship and praise.
- 3 Assurances. 1. Don’t be afraid. Fear is an emotion that must be controlled by the will. 2. This is God’s battle. He’s going to fight this for us. We need to confess how powerless we are and need His supernatural intervention. God says, “I am the victory.” 3. God is with you. v. 18-23
- The power of praise is based on confidence. v. 18-19
- They were no longer afraid because they heard the voice of God. And God is speaking today.
- God is speaking through this Book and he bolsters our confidence through this Book.
- Things changed when God spoke.
- When God speaks it is so even if you cannot see it.
- Worship and praise is God’s war cry.
- God is fighting for us. God will get the glory.
- We don’t need to be intimidated by COVID-19… We need to be wise… It’s an opportunity for God to be glorified.
- Their praise allowed them to experience deliverance.
- “the Lord set an ambush”
- God’s resources are not tied to what we see in this world. He dispatched Heaven’s resources to rout that army.
- You obey God and He will fight your battles.
What is one thing you learned from Crawford which will help you praise God during these difficult times?
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