Praise

Recently, a dear friend sent me a booklet called “Praising” by Watchman Nee, a famous Chinese Christian. Its message has given me new inspiration and a fresh perspective on praising Jesus. In this booklet, Watchman Nee talks about how essential praise is to our Christian walk. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the booklet:

“Praise is the highest work carried out by God’s children.” (page 1)

“We should sing praises to our God.” (page 2)

“The nature of praise is an offering, a sacrifice…praise comes from pain and suffering.” (page 3)

“Prayer is a warfare, but praise is a victory.” (page 8)

“We need to learn to overcome Satan by our praise. We overcome Satan not only by prayer but also by praise.” (page 15)

Watchman Nee asserts many times that praise lifts us above our situation and drives the devil away. He also says that the most essential times for praise are the seasons of deepest darkness.

A friend once said, “When it is hardest to pray, pray the hardest!” That is a wonderful statement, and I would create a similar one: “When it is hardest to praise, sing the loudest!”

Watchman Nee is a wonderful example of praising in all circumstances. He was incarcerated for his faith in 1952 and went to be with the Lord after 20 years of imprisonment. How precious are the lessons from a man who experienced such trials!

Let us also be living witnesses to the power of praise! Whenever we go through various difficulties and are prone to fall into depression, we should turn on our praise, and it will drive our gloom away.

Let us all praise the Lord and lift His name on high more and more!

2 Chronicles 20:20-22

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.