II Chronicles 20: 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the Lord.

Do not forget to praise the Lord in the midst of trial and give double praise when the trial is over. There are some trials for which you have no natural resources or weapons. I call these situations the fourth watch – when God sovereignly intervenes. Remember that the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (See II Corinthians 10: 4 -5).

In II Chronicles 20 we see one of those situations. A vast enemy army is approaching. The only weapons available to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel were prayer, praise and fasting. The praise is evident in the recognition of who God is and had been to his people in the past. “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, no one can withstand you.” (II Chronicles 20: 6). Sometimes it is necessary to go back to go forward. Then the Holy Spirit unleashes hope in you and reminds you not to look at the circumstances but to look to God only and lets you know that this time around the battle is not yours but God’s. So praise and worship Him. Allow yourself to become completely unraveled before your God. He is worthy!

At dawn you will have to set out on the journey to meet the enemy armed only with the assurance and courage God has given you. And you will be in for a surprise because the Lord God will have moved in your behalf.  Hallelujah! I know what I am talking about – one particular incident springs to mind but the story is too long to relate here. It still amazes me when I think about it and I could hardly contain my praise at the time.

The fourth watch breaks into the fourth day. That is the day of praise!  Never forget. When I read this story in II Chronicles 20 some years ago, the Holy Spirit breathed these words to me:

“In the fourth watch I will subdue the enemy. It will be marvelous and men will see and hear of what I have done. And praise shall break fourth. And I will gather up the praise of my people for their praise is precious to me. Their praise is my habitation. I dwell in the midst of praise. And this gathering of praise frees me to bless my people in such abundance that they cannot contain it. So praise my people, praise for in so doing you bring glory down upon your very heads. And the joy of the Lord shall fill your lives.”