I watched a webinar the other day on Spiritual Warfare by John Eckhardt. I don’t know what I expected, but I did not expect him to start the 3-day event to start off with a teaching on praise as a weapon! 

Apostle Eckhardt took us through Scripture after Scripture and taught us that God set the precedent Himself when He told the Israelite warriors to send Judah first into the battle (Judges 20:18). He taught us that praise is a weapon that gives us the ability to put our hands on the neck of the enemy, it looses confusion in the enemy’s camp, it stills the enemy and the avenger, and as we sing the new song of the Spirit going into the battle, we execute vengeance on our enemies and bind their kings with iron chains (Psalm 149)!!! 

And later, as I was meditating on these Scriptures, I heard the Lord say, “With praise, you put your heart in My Hands.” Then He showed me that “send Judah first” is what the Word says. When you put praise first, you are saying that the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s and you are trusting Him with it all. And yes, your heart and all that you are, you are placing in His hands. 

Warfare is a part of our everyday lives as Christians. And praise should always be our opening salvo in every battle! Doesn’t the Word say:

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Psalm 34:1

For those who need further convincing, I challenge you to meditate of these Scriptures, many of which came from the pen of David, who was often called the Worship Warrior:

Judges 20:18

2 Cor. 10:4

2 Chron. 20:22-23

Psalm 8:2

Psalm 33:1-3, 10

Psalm 40:1-3, 14-15 

Psalm 96:1-13

Psalm 98:1-9

Psalm 149:1-9

Isaiah 42:10-13

Rev. 14:1