Reflection #3 on "He Reigns" by Newsboys  [song lyrics]

• originally released by solidsounds.org, 03/22/2003
• author: Suzy C.
• scripture reference: 1 Samuel 30:3-4; 1 Samuel 30:5-6

	From the album "Adoration: The Worship Album" (2003) Read the song lyrics...

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they just heard,

Would you like to know what silences the enemy? Would you like to know what he can't stand? What causes him to cringe? It's praise.

When it seems that everything in heaven and earth is against you, when you feel like this has to be the end, when you think there is no way out, praise God. Praise Him for who He is, praise Him for what He has done, praise Him for His promises. Praise Him because He deserves it. What I am saying is that the way to fight any battle of faith is with the voice of praise.

David learned this. When things were darkest in his life, when he did not know what to do, when people wanted him dead, when friends turned against him, David praised God. Look at one of the toughest times in David's life; it is recorded in 1 Samuel 30:

"When David and his men came to the city, behold, it was burned with fire, and their wives and their sons and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted their voices and wept until there was no strength in them to weep" (1 Samuel 30:3-4 NASB).

Have you ever wept until there were no tears left? I have. I can remember a time when I was actually afraid to look at my face in the mirror because of the sorrow I would see there. David wept. The people wept. But the story does not end with weeping.

"Now David's two wives had been taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Camelite. Moreover David was greatly distressed because the people spoke of stoning him, for all the people were embittered, each one because of his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:5-6 NASB).

Did you see that? All the people were embittered, but David strengthened himself in the Lord. When things in life get hard, there are two choices--we can become embittered or we can go to the Lord and get stronger.

In ourselves there is only bitterness. But in God there is hope, there is comfort and there is strength. The story goes on to tell us that David asked God what to do and God told him to go get his family!

David pursued the enemy and recovered everything. He recovered all the sons and all the daughters and all the wives and all the possessions. But if David had become bitter, like the rest of the people, he would never have recovered anything.

Next time things in this life get hard, remember to praise God. Look to Him, He will strengthen you. When everyone else is becoming bitter, try praising God instead! Remember when you praise God:

And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they just heard,
'Cuz all the powers of darkness
Can't drown out a single word.

--Suzy C.

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 30:3-4; 1 Samuel 30:5-6