There are times when all we can do is raise up our hands and praise God through whatever is going on in our lives, good or bad. Have you ever thought about what happens when we praise God?
In Daniel chapter 10, we see that he is praying and fasting for three weeks, over 20 days. After this time, an angel (whom he describes in detail) appears and tells Daniel that his prayers were heard on the first day, but the prince of this world opposed him. In other words, this angel was doing battle for twenty-one days before he could get through with this message.
Verse 12 says, Then he said to me, ‘Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.’ Verse 15, While he was saying this to me, I was flat on the ground and unable to speak.
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 tells us about the Israelite singers being sent out to offer worship to God before the army. These worshippers were on the front line of the battle… not with man-made weapons, but with the weapon of praise. In the latter part of the verse, it says As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab.
Psalm 8:2 puts it this way, Through the praise of children and infants, you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. Then a verse we have probably all heard before from Isaiah 54:17 says, No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.
Essentially, there is a war going on in the heavens that we cannot see with our human eyes, but one that we can believe with our spiritual eyes. When we praise God, the warrior angels can prevail over the devil and his demons. Our praise is powerful to pull down strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).