Three Life-Changing Benefits of Worshipping God
On your worst day, when nothing in you feels like worshipping God- that is when worship is the single, most important and spiritually powerful thing you must do. The many benefits of worshipping God are seen in His Word, but God did not design worship because He needs it. Worship is how your spirit stays connected to the living Spirit of God and you’ll need that supernatural strength when things get hard.
The changes you’ll see as you press into praise and worship will be within you, first, before you see them around you. Developing a lifestyle of praise will create a natural response in your spirit to worship the Lord when life is hard, or good or bad or confusing- in all circumstances.
Because praise and worship are God-centered, your mind becomes renewed and removed from the trials and tribulations you’re walking through, and your spirit and mind become more aligned with the Lord’s. It is this foundational principle that underscores the supernatural benefits of worshipping God in the life of a believer.
There are Natural and Spiritual Benefits of Worshipping God
Just because life has become unbearable doesn’t mean that God isn’t good. God is always good no matter how hard life becomes. When life gets hard, shocking, traumatic, painful, confusing and bad, the spiritual benefits of worshipping a good God will support you as you walk through that “Valley of the Shadow of Death”. Through praise and worship, the transformative power of God is invited into your situation as you enter into His gates with true thanksgiving in your heart.
Does that mean you have to “give thanks” to God for all the ugliness? Of course not! It’s important to worship the Lord to thank Him as an act of faith before the breakthrough, because your praise proves that the promise is true!
1. Endurance to Journey Through Life’s Dark Valleys
One of the most cited examples of worshipping God in hard times is Job who faced a personal nightmare that most people could never imagine. However, Job 1:22 says that Job “refused to charge the Lord with wrongdoing.” In fact, Job 1:20-22 records that Job’s first response to his unimaginable pain was praise:
“…Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshipped [saying] The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (NIV)
What was the ultimate benefit in worshipping God for Job? He experienced devastating hardships in the natural at the hand of the enemy, but he stayed close to the Lord and God won the victory. (Read more in Job 42) Job was able to endure the trials and tragedies of the fallen world and move forward into a new season of his life because, before the moment his world fell apart, he fell to his knees in worship.
Worshipping God in Hard Times is as Natural as it is Spiritual
Jehoshaphat was king over Judah during a time of civil unrest. God’s people had divided themselves into two nations, Judah and Israel, and the ruling kings were often at war with each other. To make matters worse, God’s people had also begun to worship Ba’al. 2 Chronicles 17:3-4 says that, “…the Lord was with Jehoshaphat because [he] sought out the God of his fathers and walked in His commandments.”
2. Strength to Withstand Attacks from the Enemy
Asaph wrote, “My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:26 MEV) How did he come to that conclusion? He wrote of the anger he felt as a victim of his enemies, saying he had almost stumbled “…until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.” (Psalm 73:17 MEV)
Be assured the enemy will attack you. When life gets hard, if you’re weak in your faith, he will go in for the kill to try and drag you away from your passion and vitality for Christ and keep you depressed, isolated, fearful, bitter and angry. Thanksgiving and worship open a deeper, more dynamic aspect of God’s presence and when the enemy comes for you, you won’t fail- he will.
Jehoshaphat was a man of loyal obedience to God, and a man of wholehearted worship. When he heard that “…a large multitude is coming against you from across the sea,” (2 Chronicles 20:2-3) he was thrust into a dark and terrifying season, but Jehoshaphat “set himself to seek the Lord” in fasting, prayer and worship – and he led his people to the Lord as well and they sought Him together!
2 Chronicles 20:13 says that during this time of fear and panic and war, “…all of Judah was standing before the Lord, even their infants, wives and children.” As they drew near to the Lord in the natural realm, God supernaturally fought their battle for them:
“Jehoshaphat bowed his face to the ground, and all Judah and those dwelling in Jerusalem fell before the Lord to worship Him. And the Levites from the descendants of the Kohathites and Korahites rose up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a very loud voice. [Then] they rose up early in the morning and went out…”
“[Then] appointed singers for the Lord and those praising Him in holy attire went before those equipped for battle saying, ‘Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever!‘ When they began singing and praising, the Lord set ambushes against Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:18-21 MEV)
“Forget Not All His Benefits” When You Praise the Lord
The Lord fulfilled His promise to Jehoshaphat, to defeat his enemies. In fact, Jehoshaphat and his army didn’t even lift a finger and then got to take all the plunder and riches back home – “…more than they could carry”! (2 Chronicles 20:25).
3. A New Testimony of the Goodness of God in Your Life
But Jehoshaphat didn’t stop worshipping once everything was going smoothly – no! The worship happened before the battle was won and afterward as they recalled His mighty works. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “… the strong take it by force.” (Matt. 11:22) Worship tears victory from the enemy’s hand as you place your life into God’s hand in His presence.
Worship is proof of your faith in God, that He is who He said He is and He will do what He said He would do, and that He deserves all the glory, regardless of the condition of your situation.
~Alicia Purdy
“…On the fourth day they gathered at the Valley of Berakah, because there they blessed the Lord… [Then] they entered Jerusalem with harps, lyres, and trumpets to the house of the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 20:26, 28) There are more than just personal benefits of worshipping God.
Worship is proof of your faith in God – that He is who He said He is and He will do what He said He would do, and that He deserves all the glory, regardless of the condition of your situation.
After his own terrible battles and dark valleys, David wrote, “He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise to our God; many will see it, and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40:3 MEV) One of the most powerful benefits of worshipping God is that your testimony of worship points others to the Lord.
Revelation 12:11 says the people of God overcome the enemy “…by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (MEV)
There is blessing in the obedience and sacrifice of worship. Psalm 103:2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits…” Remembering your testimonies of God’s faithfulness and power in your life is what grows in you a heart and mindset of gratitude, and gratitude is the point of origin for all true worship.
Thought for today: You are a Living Witness to the Benefits of Worshipping God
The Word of God is full of His promises and He honors His Word even above His own name. (Psalm 138:2) The Lord always honors the promises He made in His Word and you can stand upon those, but one of the primary benefits of worshipping God is the strength you’ll draw from existing in His presence that will help you resist the enemy, stand in faith, hear His voice and so much more.
When Jehoshaphat sought the Lord and worshipped Him, the Lord sent a word that the battle would be won. Even amid their fear and without knowing how He’d do it, Jehoshaphat and the people still worshipped God as a sign of their faith that He would keep His promise.
That is the true power of praise! No matter how fearful you are, no matter how high the stakes are, no matter how bad things get, no matter how outnumbered or overwhelmed you feel, don’t let the enemy disconnect you from your vital connection with God in worship. Praising the Lord at all times is a faith discipline that proves “the evidence of things not seen”, that you believe God’s promises to be true.
When you worship God before your battle is won, your praise is faith in action! When you worship Him after, recalling His work in your life, you are testifying to others that He will do the same for them. (Revelation 19:10) This is how believers fight their battles.
Build Up Your Faith as You Worship God within the Storm:
“Finding Hope in the Lord Through Praise and Worship”
“4 Ways to Worship When Giving Thanks Feels Way too Hard”
“Bring the People of War With You into Your Battle Season”
Don’t forget to pick up a copy of The Way of the Worshipper on Amazon – and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchase The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional Workbook for deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!
