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~ I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon.
I'll wait to see what God says ~ Habakkuk 2:1-2
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Mar 10, 2010

The Garment of Praise



Even as children of the Most High King, we can become depressed or oppressed with the spirit of heaviness.

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. ~ Proverbs 17:22 NLT

One of my pastors lost both his first and second wife to cancer. He carried the loss with astounding faithfulness. And when asked how he kept from being sucked into depression with the loss of not one but both wives, his simple statement was so wise. He said , “ I just put on my praise music when that spirit of heaviness comes around, and it just carries me through it” I never forgot this! In fact – I didn’t even know then that what he practiced was actually scriptural.

Now, I am a “worship warrior”. I know the power of Praise!

Scripture calls it a languid spirit; a spirit of heaviness; a spirit of despair; a spirit of fainting. Isaiah 61:3. All speak of this spirit that the enemy lays on us – like a covering – a hidden wall of doom. But the Holy Scripture tells us how to combat the very source of this spirit of heaviness. In scripture, it is described as a ‘spirit’ – this means that it is a spirit of the enemy - The fallen one that only seeks to devour and destroy.

But God! ….

When I put praise in the search bar at Biblegateway.com, It posted 380 scriptures for praise alone. He inhabits our praise! I thot this was scriptural – this ‘inhabits’ word. I’ve made this statement for years but can’t find the scripture address to go with it. But, it’s not too far off from the truth. When I search my thesaurus, I find that ‘inhabit’ is the word that I’m looking for – scripture or not. I find words like – live in; dwell in; occupy; abide; stay; reside.
His presence occupies our praise.
I see this displayed so simply in the story of King Saul’s deliverance from a distressing spirit in 1 SAM 16:14-23.

“But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him. And Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit from God is troubling you ” Vs 14-15 NKJ

So they called for David to play his harp.

“And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.” 1 SAM 16:23 NKJ

This was in fact one of the first – if not the first account of deliverance from an evil spirit. I find it interesting that Saul’s deliverance was immediate and it didn’t come from calling out or shouting. It was accomplished – simply and beautifully through music! This has caused me to be interested in music therapy. I see it as a universal language. Understood on all levels and by all tribes. Corporate worship is soooo powerful. Since the Lord has truly opened my eyes to this deliverance of this spirit of heaviness, I now see corporate worship through my spiritual eyes as ‘mass deliverance’. POWERFUL! I’m talking about anointed music that comes from God’s anointed; as David was.

This account of deliverance causes me to want to play music by ear, as my mama did. I want to sing by ear. Jesus said “my sheep hear my voice.” I want to hear the Holy Spirit’s lyrics for my life – that I might be refreshed and well, and free of any spirit of heaviness. I want to savor the music – to hear the highs and the lows of HIs melody.

2 Kings 3: 11-16 shares the account of the 3 kings that sought the word of the Lord through Elisha the prophet. Elisha first called for a musician – and when he listened, the hand of he Lord came upon him and he prophesied. The valley was full of water and the people drank and were refreshed, and were given victory over their enemies.

“But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ Vs 15-16 NKJ

2 Chronicles 20: 13 –30 is an awesome account of ‘the battle is not yours but Gods’. The enemy became confused and was self-slaughtered because the people took their positions as was prophesied – and began praising God.

“You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.” Vs 17 NKJ

The Joy of the Lord is your Strength. The enemy wants your JOY!!

“And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10 NLT

“The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.” Psalm 28:7 NLT

Sing to the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
For though I was poor and needy,
He rescued me from my oppressors.
Jeremiah 20:13 NLT

When the spirit of heaviness hovers,
do you remember to fight it with praise?
Do you discern its appearance?
Its traits?
Its lies?
Its physical heaviness
and command it to flee with praise?

Your song is spiritual warfare!

Praise be to the one and only
King of all Kings
Jesus Christ the King!

Patrina <")>><
Warrior Bride in boots

28 comments:

  1. You have been missed, but, you come back stronger than ever. Love this, "The Garment of Praise". Thanks to the One who gives songs in the night. You told me one of your gifts was being an encourager. You wear it well. Glad to be in the house.
    My word verification is: Aba lead.

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  2. WHOA!!! Glory to God, this really stirred me up. I have been learning this same thing - when I start feeling heavy, I immediately say outloud things that I am grateful for. It can be something as simple as my favorite color or season, anything. It works like a charm! That's because God designed us in such a way that our spoken words override our thoughts! I have not tried music for sadness, I'm sure that has the same positive results. Great post my dear friend!

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  3. PRAISE THE LORD! Ha! the POWER OF PRAISE can never be underestimated! If men of the world likes their praise to be sang by the media& people, one can imagine how GOD loves to be praised! WHEN WE PRAISE GOD, HE TURNS OUR PREDATORS INTO PREYS! Hallelujah! Thanks for the comment in my blog;The constant blackout ain't helping & my generator is out of order.So whenever there is electricity supply, i would browse. Goodnight. or is it Goodmorning?

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  4. I love how this all came together Patrina! And I read some of those very same Scriptures this morning. Also my 'reading' for today declared it a Day of Praise in SW back last fall [the day I was reading from]. In that journal I wrote these words:

    "PRAISE is our DECLARATION of WAR against the enemy!"

    I can't live without praise music on in my house and I cannot drive without it in my car! It keeps my focus on the Lord at all times!

    You wrote:
    " I see it as a universal language. Understood on all levels and by all tribes. Corporate worship is soooo powerful. Since the Lord has truly opened my eyes to this deliverance of this spirit of heaviness, I now see corporate worship through my spiritual eyes as ‘mass deliverance’. POWERFUL! I’m talking about anointed music that comes from God’s anointed; as David was."

    'Mass deliverance' - I love that! And no doubt - music's 'power' in our spirit joins our hearts with His Heart!

    Loved this post! Also Isaiah 61 passage about the 'garment of Praise' is huge...... because it overtakes the despair that was there. Between Praise and Despair = one will ALWAYS override the other = and Praise will win every time when it's done in God's spirit!

    There's POWER in PRAISE!

    Choosing JOY,
    Stephanie
    JESUS ONLY in 2010

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  5. Praise the LORD Patrina! You already know how I feel about PRAISE and thank you for your messages on my post yesterday on one of my blog. To God be the glory. Thank you for sharing this powerful message here today.

    God bless you! Keep PRAISING HIM!!!

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  6. @ Brenda
    Hey girlfriend, I'm glad that you missed me :) Thanks for the kind response. Yes...I am so thankful for the songs that He gives in the night hour. I often wake in the morning with a song in my heart and on my lips. This tells me that what I am singing - was what was sung over me while I slept or even dreamed. Zeph.3:17 says that He rejoices over us with singing! I just love that about God, don't you?

    “ Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” NKJ

    Thanks for picking up the pencil to connect on the Bridge. You are most welcome in the "house"!!

    love that word verification!! I say Amen to that!


    @ Deborah Ann
    You are exactly right abou the spoken word overpowering the thot process. This was shown as evidence to me when someone had me count to 10 in my head ...and then somewhere down the line...they told me to speak my name. the result wsa - I could not continue to count and speak at the same time. The will to speak overrode the thot process!!! It was an amazing thing!! The key here is to speak. If we choose to remain in bondage to our thots - they override the ability to speak them away!! We are so wonderfully and fearfully made!!

    Thanks for picking up the pencil and connecting on the Bridge.

    @ Nitty-Gritty
    WHEN WE PRAISE GOD, HE TURNS OUR PREDATORS INTO PREYS! Good one!! I've not heard that before! Yes , you most definitely know the power of Praise too! So thankful that you have that weapon in your arsenal. So honored to praise the Lord with you, dear one.

    Sorry about the blackouts! It sounds really rough over in Nigeria. I am praying for you and your family - still. Stay safe and keep on praising Jesus!! Thank you so much for meetingme here on the Bridge and picking up the pencil to say hey!!

    @ TRUTHSHARER
    My fellow TRUTH bearer! "PRAISE is our DECLARATION of WAR against the enemy!"

    Love that! Yes indeed it is! It sounds like a battle cry. I too am playing music most of the day. It changes the environment and gives Dad somethng to focus on rather than His obsessive thot patterns. :) It see,s to be working.

    Thanks for picking up the pencil to let me know that you were here!


    @ Lisa Shaw

    Amen, Lisa. His presence Is in our praise. Yes indeed! I still see you out there dancing on the breeze of the Holy Spirit. Keep praising Jesus!

    It is so nice to see you on the Bridge. I know you are a very busy lady. God bless you for picking up the pencil to let me know that you were here

    God bless you all and may He you hear His song sung over you with rejoicing!

    Patrina <")>><

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  7. Thanks PAT, the constant blackout is due to CORRUPTION! Nigeria is known as the 2nd corrupt country in the world! We are NEWS worldwide! Just because of the GREED of some certain people in our country, the efforts by the govt to improve from the 3000MW to 6000MW is being sabotaged by a cabal/ mafia because they make so much money from the DEMISE!

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  8. Excellent post!! I really love this one. Especially since music and praise are so close to my heart. One quote came to mind from Hans Christian Andersen: “Where words fail, music speaks.” I think that's so true. Aye. This is a feel good post Patrina. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

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  9. I love it that music has a way of bypassing the head, moving straight to the heart!

    Something tells me there will be a LOT of singing in eternity.

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

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  10. So very true. The only music I play in my car is Christian Radio. Because even when I could possibly get annoyed with other drivers, or be down about something we've got to take care of during our errands....I feel a sense of peace and uplifting. My kidlets feel it, too. :)

    Thank you for all your beautiful words....here and over at my blog, too.

    You are a true blessing to many,
    ~Lisa

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  11. @ nitty-gritty
    thanks so much for helping me understand the situation in Nigeria. I do pray for your continued safety. WE are soooo blessed in America.

    I pray you are greatly blessed and highly favored :)

    @ Luke
    As a matter of fact, my grandson has that very wall plaque on his wall. He's so into electric guitar!! He doesn't always 'hear' words but he never misses teh music! thanks for visiting the Bridge and picking up the pencil to say 'hey". I'll be over at your place soon. Dad has kept me pretty busy- he hurt his back a couple of weeks ago and has been in a lot of pain.

    Blessings for a great weekend

    @ Sassy Granny
    A lot of singing in Heaven! I cerainly hope so!!Thanks for visiting the Bridge and picking up the pencil to say so.

    Have a blessed Sunday with the Lord

    @ Lisa
    So nice to see you here on the Bridge again. I have missed you, but understand your current priorites. I just love your new 'heart' horse Apatche.

    Blessings come and blessings go -I bless you and you bless me - I call it even, dear friend.

    Hugs for a lovely weekend with e critters and the family.

    Patrina <")>><

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  12. Your blog is such a blessing. I found it from Nitty Gritty's blog... So glad I did. I feel myself in the position you discussed- heaviness, feelings of inexplicable sadness etc. I never thought of praise as a way out... I never even thought of God as a way out. I guess if you live with a problem for long enough, you start to feel like it is part of you and there is no point in trying to address it. Thanks for the work you are doing here; you are truly a blessing. :)

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  13. Hey... thanks for visiting our blog... I'm the F in F and M and I was the one who commented earlier... :) My friend and I have the blog account together so I could only comment with the joint name. Thanks a lot- your post really helped me. :D

    -F

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  14. @ 'F'

    thanks so much for letting me know which half of F & M you were :)

    I left the comment on your blog because I wanted you to know that I'm praying for you. I know the spirit of heaviness. I know what makes it flee. Please try worship ful praise music to lift your spirit and empower you.

    If you do not KNow God as your personal Savior ~ I encourage you to seek Him. Ask Him to show you who He is and wants to be in your life. He specializes in high walls and prison doors. the spirit of heaviness - is like a prison. It hovers with a controling force to keep your spirit from soaring.

    Your statement haunts me:
    "I guess if you live with a problem for long enough, you start to feel like it is part of you and there is no point in trying to address it."

    Don't listen to the lies that tell you there is no way out! YOU can be free to experience LIfe with JOY instead of heaviness. The JOY of the Lord will be your strength!

    Reading the Bible also lifts the spirit of heaviness - it is the Living Word of God. It is just as valid for today as it was in the times of Jesus and Moses.

    Seriously, I am praying for you that the spirit of heaviness would no longer reside in you. Seek and you will find - Knock and the door will be opend to you. Ask and it will be given to you. He longs to give you His JOY.

    Again, I do not know if you know Jesus - but I would not be who I say I am if I did not tell you about my Jesus. Life is hard - I would not think of going it alone -against the spirit of heaviness. With jESUS, I'm armored against it. Not that it doesn't come knocking - not that I don't open the door to it at times, but With Jesus, I know I have the weapon to experience Victory over it - time and time again! That gives me HOPE for a new day!

    Thanks so much for picking up the pencil and letting me know your heaviness. I'm hopeful that the Bridge was a connection for you. I'm honored to be able to pray for you. Thanks for being open. I appreciate you. Please know that you are precious - valuable - needed - and loved! You don't just have my word on that - But God Himself has said these things about you - in soooo many ways.

    Welcome "F' my new friend
    Patrina <")>><

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  15. Thanks for sharing this!
    It has challenged me to 'consciously' be a praise warrior like you said.
    I should do more praise, and I like the line ' God's presence fills our praise'
    Bless you

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  16. thank you for this reminder ... truly He does inhabit our praises

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  17. Enjoyed peeking at your blog tonight. God is good...Found you through Stephanie at TruthSharer.

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  18. @ Olufunke

    Nice to welcome a new ace onthe Bridge. Thanks for connecting and picking up the pencil. You can't go wrong - walking in praise. It was nice visiting your place as well. I hope to connect with you often here on the Bridge. Blessings!

    @ S Etole

    Thanks for picking up the pencil to let me know that you were here. I look forward to your kind visits. Blesings and favor in Christ Jesus! my friend.

    Patrina <")>><

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  19. I don't think I have heard this message being said (or written) any better. Or is it because it is so timely. Thanks for sharing this and for expounding on it.

    Thanks for the comments you left on my blogs. The words by Bishop Joshep Garlington were really o n point.

    I am still amazed at the beauty of your blog.

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  20. @ Tiffany
    Thanks for connecting on the Bridge, and welcome. I'm so glad that we've connected. After reading your story - I feel akin to you. God is good. I pray over my blog and ask the Lord to send people to my blog that He wants me to have realationship with in Him. He never ceases to amaze me. Thanks for picking up the pencil to let me lknmow that you were here...Keep growing closer to Jesus!

    @ Rita

    I was wondering how you were - wondering if that post of yours was describing where you were right now. If so, I'm glad that my posthere and my comment there - connected with your spirit. May you be encouraged and empowered through praise.

    Please know, my friend, that I am praying for you!

    Thanks for picking up the pencil to connect with me and to let me know your heart so that I can pray for favor and Joy in your circumstance.

    Blessings and hugs, Patrina <")>><

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  21. Thank you Patrina for penciling your thoughts on my blog. I love that you said today...believe. The enemy did not like me sharing my believe story. He has been after me. I will join you in corporate blog praise of His Holy Name. This post was overflowing with what we need to do. Thank you. Amen. B

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  22. Very powerful words here! Music is definitely a universal language. Praise music is one of the most powerful weapons to fight a spirit of heaviness with. Thanks for so much thought and insight here. I look forward to coming back.

    Denise Hughes :)

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  23. Such a moving post. And I love the music, Listen to our hearts.

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  24. This was so excellent Patrina! What a full and beautiful listing of praise scriptures. And to be reminded again that God inhabits the praise of His people. No wonder we all love the music that lifts Him up... it lifts US up!!!

    Thanks for the very good words here!

    I saw your comments on Heavenly Humor about your altar... I so understand that. I am also a minister's daughter, and I grew up so at home with everything in the church too. We all have our own 'altar' or place where our worship time is personal and treasured...

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  25. Patrina, I fell in love with you over your 'altar' comments. You so beautifully take your place as the bride of Christ. I can already see you in that flowing white gown...

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  26. I love this post....It has so much truth and power to it. Praise is our weapon...our best friend. I love the scripture about David...it has always intrigued me that just the music could chase away that dark and depressive spirit. Love this Patrina! Thanks for visiting my blog!

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  27. I love this post, because it talks about the garment of praise, that phrase found in Isaiah 61... Joy is the source of my daily strength. I couldn't do without joy flowing through my veins!

    Thank you for finding my blog, and staying a while to visit. I believe you are a God sent.

    Blessings!

    Lidia

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  28. hi patrina..it was so nice to hear from you.
    i never even knew that i was blocked.
    i think that a person HAS to be careful, about who follows them.
    i like to read the person's blog to see first.
    but as for you, well even the name that you have, "pencil in the hand of god"..that is just so godly.i had no doubts about you!
    i remember when we were in sunday school, we were told that the bible was written by god and the authors of the different books were just pens in the hand of the lord..so you see, patrina i knew that you were real.
    i would love you to put your name in my followers.
    i would of even been here sooner but i have been so neglectful of commenting ...not a lot of time!!
    maybe if i wasn't so long winded, it would be a help...alas!
    thank you so much for your visit.
    thank you for your congratulations.
    i saved your nice comment about mr.old geezer..it was too nice to lose....take care patirna.
    sometimes i visit your blog and ;plug the ear phones in and listen to your beautiful hymn, while i scroll down and look at the lovely pictures.
    bernie's favourite one is the white dove that is flying..
    take care...........love from .terry

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Thanks for picking up the pencil...

May the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit ...
be with you all.


Patrina
His Warrior Bride in Boots

"HEAR The Word of The Lord"

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