This is only a TEST!

2 Samuel 22:4 “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.”

Do you recognize this sound and message….. We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast to announce an important message: (BEEEEEEEEEEEP) "If this had been an actual emergency, you would have been instructed to tune to one of the broadcast stations in your area." Sometimes in our spiritual life we hear this message, we interrupt YOUR regular schedule plans to bring you a test. As we hear this sound we often prepare for the worse, but do not panic! “A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 HCSB

Just as the alert goes out our Spirit takes note that something different is occurring. I am often intrigued by the use of signals and signs by athletic coaches. They come up with different signals for plays so that the opposing team will not understand what they are doing. Have you ever been traveling down the highway and you lose your radio station and another station starts playing? That is what happens when the test occurs our earthly language no longer works and our spiritual language begins utterance of praise to God. This sets off an alert in the enemies’ camp, he is receiving a mixed signal. What the enemy once thought was fear from you is now recognized as your praise.

The enemy does not understand your praise, he becomes confused. He based his prerequisites on your past actions, he thought you were weak, going to lose your mind, and that you would give up. He did not know about your secret weapon….YOUR PRAISE. As you endure through the test, your praise will allow your faith to increase, while self decreases. As God strengthens you and you continue to praise him, it sets off hysteria in the enemies’ camp. As the walls of your test starts collapsing around you because of your praise to God, the enemy starts backing off. He now understands that this test will not kill you, it only made you stronger and closer to God. Your attention has shifted it, is no longer on the test or your regular scheduled plans but it is now more focused on God. Your praise is your weapon of destroying the enemy. David understood that in order to get to the secret place and hear the next instruction he had to praise and worship God. The battle with the enemy is not with guns, knives or sticks but it will be won by using your voice, your praise!

Lord thank you for giving us a weapon to use that destroys the enemy, thank you for PRAISE!

Additional Scriptures: 2 Samuel 22:4; Psalms 18; 21:11,34; 37:40; 50:23; 68:1; 2 Corinthians 4:7-18