ARMED AND STRONG IN THE LORD
7. Praise
*A concise explanation from the Lord:	 
Praising God brings triumph from just about anything that is trying to make you lose the round. To grumble repeatedly is to put yourself in a position to lose and miss out on being victorious. Praise God right in the midst of the battle, for then you can be sure of something good coming real soon. Praise is to declare your right as a child of God to be happy no matter what is befalling you. You have a right to rejoice, for you know that all things truly will work out for your good in the end—even the bad, maddening, sad things of life. If you don’t know why something is good—as it sure looks bad to you—don’t worry about trying to figure it out and analyze it to see how it can possibly make sense. Just say that you are glad that you don’t have to try to fix everything, that it’s the Lord job to do that. And then declare your right to rejoice in Holy Praise, no matter what is happening. I’m not saying to rejoice about bad things, but to praise the one who is going to make things all right and good in the end, and make you even glad then about anything that seemed to go wrong for you in your life. When it’s all worked out and the full story is told, and you see how each piece of this life and that situation all fits together, then you will be able to praise a whole lot more. So start now and it will lift you out of despair that stops you from performing your Lord’s highest will. And sometimes His highest will is to first let things get worse for a time before they do get better and better. But just because things are better for you in the next life—for those who have yielded to Jesus’ plan and cheerfully did what He asked, even when it was really tough—that doesn’t mean things will be totally easy for everyone. For some, that is when things will start to get tough, very tough. And you can be glad that you did the difficult things now, with a heart filled with faith and lips filled with positive declarations of praise and gratitude to Jesus, as that enabled you to win some awesome triumphs and gain your sweet treasure.  Praise and hard work now, and sweet victory later, rather than grumbling and selfishness and disobedience now, and a lot of difficult times later. Be glad when things aren’t your favourite today, even when you are doing your best for Jesus. That just means that He is saving up the really good things for you, when you are done doing what He asked you to do.

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*Keys to claim in prayer, to receive empowerment to fight with these new weapons and stop the enemy’s attempts to hinder our using them:
You will feel the power of the keys-steady and confident, strong and unbeatable—as you praise Me and let your voice glorify Me. Whenever you feel discouraged or worried, bring on the power of the keys through your words of faith and praise. They rush to those who honor Me and glorify My Name.
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Some specifics that help explain more:
•	Singing to the Lord (with understanding, and in tongues of the spirit)
•	Listening to God-glorifying music
•	Dancing (with or without music)
•	Words of love and praise to Jesus (Words written, read, or spoken aloud, or spoken in one’s heart and mind.)
•	Words and an attitude of thankfulness that declare our faith in God’s awareness of us and His good choices in what He allows or denies. (Words written, read, or spoken aloud, or spoken in one’s heart and mind.)
•	Declare and tell or read stories that show what the Lord has done for His people—in the past, or for us today.
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*True stories of victory, showing these fighting methods in practice:
One night when I went to check on my daughters, I saw that Amanda's hamster, Cheeky Charlie, was restless in his 
cage, so I let him run around the bathroom while I brushed my teeth. Then I saw him scurry behind the bidet and I was concerned that he might get stuck, so I tried to grab him, but he disappeared.
Then I realized what had happened. He had fallen through a hole where the pipes went under the floorboards. I called my husband and we tried to do all we could to rescue Cheeky Charlie, but he had disappeared into the recesses of our big house. At first we could hear him scuttling around, but then we couldn't hear him anymore, and I knew he had wandered far away. We made a little ladder for him and put it in the hole. We also put some food down there, in case he got hungry. I was so concerned that I even wanted to sleep in the bathroom, just in case he came to the hole in the night.
All this time, I was despairing and worried. Quite a few things had gone wrong recently--a crashed computer, some very expensive work that needed to be done on our car, personal battles, and now the hamster. To add to that, Amanda had already been having worries before this incident that her hamster was going to die.
I was worried, discouraged, and was beginning to wonder if perhaps the Lord was unhappy with us, or me in particular. Just then I heard my daughter, Suki, coughing in her bed, and that felt like the last straw, as I thought she was getting sick. I was sinking in negativity and discouragement. But then the Lord punched through. I remembered the book summary of Power in Praise (by Merlin Carothers), which I had taken to the bathroom with me. I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to do the impossible by praising the Lord that the hamster was lost and by faith he'd be rescued.
I went into the bathroom and committed the whole situation to the Lord in praise. I read a few paragraphs of the book and implemented its counsel. I sang in tongues, and I praised the Lord. Then I prayed one last prayer in faith for the hamster.
I told the Lord that I knew His eye was on the sparrow, and asked if He could have His eye on Cheeky too. I asked Him to send an angel to guide Cheeky out and return him to us safely. Then the Lord told me that that was it--I didn't need to worry, because it was in His control. Now I just needed to keep praising Him for the whole situation. With faith in my heart, I lay down and went to sleep.
In the morning, although there was still no sign of the hamster, I refused to worry and immediately began praising the Lord. My husband told the children what had happened to Cheeky, and amazingly, Amanda's reaction was very positive.
Then the miracle happened. While I was washing the breakfast dishes, Amanda came running into the kitchen shouting that the hamster was in the living room behind the cupboard. And sure enough, there he was, safe and sound. An angel had guided him out of the recesses of the upstairs floorboards and somehow got him onto the ground floor into a room where someone was able to hear him.
Though this seems like a small thing, it was such a life-changing experience, not just because of the miracle of the lost hamster being found, but even more so because I knew that the miracle had happened because I had chosen to praise. That very day, I shared this testimony with the garage owner and he said it really was a miracle. They had had exactly the same thing happen to their hamster, and they never found him again.
I feel so full of faith now! Praise and be thankful for everything! It surely is God's way, and releases His power into our lives to work miracles! (FSM 424)
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Simon has always appreciated the Word, and often puts into practice what he has read or heard from us. When we came to see him this time, he seemed bothered. He admitted that he had really gone "under," and couldn't help but be "upset with God." For the last two months, the company income had been very low, making things difficult. Contrary to his usual admonition to his staff that, "God is always here for us and He will work things out," Simon felt that God had let him down, to the point that he'd even verbalized his frustration, by murmuring about God in front of his staff.
I told him about the spiritual weapon of praise and the art of rising above. I brought out examples from Power in Praise. I explained how there would be a testimony out of this test, but only if he starts to praise God for it and make it a testimony to his staff of real faith and trust in God despite the gloomy circumstances. 
He said that his staff would think he was crazy if he walked in the next day and praised God for the poor business and lacks they had. He agreed to do it nonetheless. He was determined to use this new skill to defeat the monsters of doubt and clouds of discouragement that loomed around him, and to counter the flood of problems besieging him.
Four days later, we visited him again. Excitedly he told us of the miracles that had taken place over the previous couple of days. A very big business deal with a major petroleum company came through, giving him an order for his products with a large profit margin that will help him cover most of his bills. Besides that, several other orders came in for his products, upping the company income considerably--all within the last 48 hours! (Link 12)
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	Since moving to this part of the city, I'd been having asthma attacks quite frequently and would often stay up till four o'clock in the morning battling it. One night when I was battling with my breathing and feeling really discouraged and frustrated about it, the Lord reminded me of a quote: "If you can't sleep, maybe the Lord wants you to pray."
	So I started to pray for others and was also asking for His help to overcome this attack. Eventually I started praising Him and thanking Him for all He's done for me and for keeping me through so many attacks of the Enemy. I was telling Him how much I appreciate and love Him and really need Him. I started loving Him with the love words and pouring out my heart as I told Him how much I love Him. After a while, without realizing it, my breathing was back to normal and I was able to drift off to sleep!
	With the next few attacks, I just started to praise the Lord and spend time loving Him instead of concentrating on my breathing, and the attacks would get less and less serious. Thank You Jesus! I learned that the Lord wants me to keep my eyes on Him instead of myself, and most of all He wants me to spend time with Him!
(PRAYER LIST 36)
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Messages others received on these ways to fight and win in the Spirit 
17. (Jesus speaking:) Is there life in your praises to Me; are your praises alive? Are your hearts full of thanksgiving to Me for all that I bring into your lives? Do you begin your day with a song of praise on your lips?
	18. Your times of praise need to become more active and alive, times when you lift your arms in total praise to Me.--Times when you release yourself from all that is around you and I lift you to the heavenlies through your praises.
	19. Praise is more than singing a song to Me about something. It's more than thanking Me for what I've done. Praise is the gauge of gratitude of heart that you have for Me. Praise is a declaration of the love that you have for Me. Is that what you feel when you praise Me? Do you feel moved by the love we share when you enter those moments of praise? Those moments in your day spent praising Me should move you, they should warm you up in spirit, they should excite you.
	20. When you lack inspiration, praise is a kick-start, and it renews you. But if you don't praise, then you miss out on the spiritual boost that comes through praise. You leave your spirit drained by not availing yourself of the refreshment of spirit that comes through praise. (ML 3449)
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(Natalia speaking:) 

(Christmas Praises 2001! [#3372])
11. Let your praise be known to all the worlds! Be not as those who repeat the words in vain repetition, but immerse yourselves in the joyful sound of praise and glory in its power! Praise with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and let your praise lift you to the Heavenlies!
	12. This is the kind of praise our dear Love wants. This is the kind of praise that empowers you. This is the kind of praise that brings fruit in your lives. This is the kind of praise that rises above. This is the kind of praise that turns the keys to the Kingdom, which you hold in your hands. This is the kind of praise that transcends the impossible!
(ML 3372)
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58. (Prophecy, Dad speaking:)  "I wrote plenty about praising the Lord, because I knew it was important.  My mother was always faithful to praise, and to impart to me the need to praise. I tried to impart that need to you, too, and I tried to praise the Lord all through my life because I knew it was important, I knew it was uplifting. I knew it did me good, and I was sure the Lord appreciated it and loved me for it. But being on this side I see much more how important it is and how much it means to the Lord and how pleased He is with it!
	59. "It's very important Here in Heaven, for we praise the Lord all the time!  It's very natural. It's part of being Here, it's what we do. When you see it from this side, you see how important it is and how much you want to do it. It's beautiful to hear the praises of the Lord that people give. It's beautiful to hear the many ways to praise the Lord Here, and to see that all things praise the Lord. It's beautiful! It's wonderful! I can't even explain it.
	60. And as you praise, you partake of this heavenly atmosphere, the atmosphere of praise that we have Here!  You partake of it and you participate in it. It's a link between you there and us Here.
	61. "So though I said in my time there that praise was important, I say now it is even much more important than I told you then!  I had a glimpse of it, I knew the need, but now I see much more the strength and the power that lies in praise.--Not only the power to give you victory and to uplift your heart, but the power that it has to draw power from the heavenly realm.  It's as if praise opens the channel to the heavenlies that allows the heavenly blessings to pour down, so that you don't just praise your way to victory, you also praise down the blessings of God!
66. "So join us Here with praises unto God! Join us Here as you tell Jesus of your love, and as you thank Him for all that He has done. And He will join us as we help to pour forth blessing upon blessing unto you!" (ML 3013)

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21. (Jesus speaking: ) You need more praise in your life; you need to more definitely feel the thankfulness and inspiration that comes through praise. Praise and prayer go hand in hand, they complement one another. Through praise you open up the channel to find the desperation in your times of prayer.
	22. I hear your words of love and praise! I see your abandonment of spirit through your praises, and this excites Me. And then when I see your hearts turn to Me in passionate prayer, there is nothing that turns Me on more than this.
	23. This is what I need of My brides. This is how you open yourself up to experience the ecstasies of My Spirit. This is how you are able to live more in the realm of the spirit rather than being bogged down by earthly cares.
	24. If you're struggling to put on My mind; if you find it hard to focus on the power when you're hit with difficulties; if rising above seems an impossibility for you; if you toil over allowing Me full possession--then I ask you to check your prayer and praise lives. Because if those two elements are in the right place--if your desire, enthusiasm, and effort are put into these two key elements--then the rest will follow.
	25. Making prayer and praise more of a key factor in your life takes surrender of your own thoughts and free will. It requires that you open yourself up to Me intimately. It requires continual yieldedness and desperation in order to not lose the momentum, but to continually motivate your lives.
	26. As you take the first steps to reawaken the passion of prayer and praise in your lives, you'll begin to witness the change in other areas as well. Those besetting sins that seemed interminable will begin to fade, your spirit will be lifted, and better yet, you will have the confidence that I have seen and heard your prayers and I will answer--not only for others, but for you personally as well. Your faith will be boosted in ways you can only imagine!
	27. This is part of your step into the future, into becoming more like Me, and finding the zeal, the fervor, the fighting spirit that I've placed in each of you. Will you search it out? Will you cultivate these gifts? It will change your life if you do! (End of message from Jesus.)  (ML 3449)

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Quotes from Jesus and Bible verses to memorize:
Praise Me with your whole heart, and by the power of the keys I will work miracles on your behalf.
PSA.9:1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
1TH.5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Praise with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and let your praise lift you to the Heavenlies! This is the kind of praise that empowers you. (ML 3372)   
Praise is more than thanking Me for what I've done. Praise is a declaration of the love that you have for Me. (ML 3449)   
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How Jesus taught or fought with this Spiritual weapon:
JOH.11:1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
JOH.11:2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
JOH.11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
JOH.11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

JOH.11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
JOH.11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

JOH.11:39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
JOH.11:40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
JOH.11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
JOH.11:42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
JOH.11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
JOH.11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
JOH.11:45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
LUK.10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
LUK.10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
LUK.10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
LUK.10:22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
LUK.10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
LUK.10:24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.