Song of Praise

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests…(NIV)

             The Israelites had just been freed from 400 years of slavery under the cruel reign of the Egyptian king. A miracle indeed it was for they had never seen such works done by God Almighty such as the plagues that had befallen Pharaoh, the Passover where the Egyptians’ firstborns were killed, but the Israelites’ spared, and being led by a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. More miracles followed as God allowed them to walk on dry land through the Red Sea and then making sure to cover it back up when Pharaoh and the Egyptian army tried to cross. As a result, they drowned and that was the last time Israel came in contact with them.

 

 

            Miriam, Moses’ sister and prophetess, led the women into a joyful dances with singing and tambourines unto the Lord. Exodus 15:20-21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. (NIV) Miriam knew that the Lord had heard their prayers and had delivered them out of the hands of Pharaoh. Exodus 2:23-25 ⁽²³⁾During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. ⁽²⁴⁾God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. ⁽²⁵⁾So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them. (NIV) God made a promise long ago that He was going to keep because His word can never return void.

 

 

            Miriam recognized how faithful and true that God was to His word. She acknowledged that He had heard their prayers and set an example of gratefulness for the other women by thanking God through music and dance. No one was able to move on the Israelites’ behalf like God had done. Their prayers of help reached God’s ear and He came to the rescue of His chosen people. Psalm 66:16-20 ⁽¹⁶⁾Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. ⁽¹⁷⁾I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue ⁽¹⁸⁾ If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened, ⁽¹⁹⁾but god has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. ⁽²⁰⁾ Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (NIV)

            The Apostle Paul lets us know that we are to pray in the Spirit. How do we pray in the Spirit? We do so by praying in accordance to the will of God. We must ask God what His plans are for our lives and ensure that our prayers line up accordingly. 1 John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV) God loves granting His children with their desires, but we must earnestly seek him and believe that He is a rewarder of those who are faithful unto Him. Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

 

 

            As a warrior for Christ, prayer is our communication with God, which allows us to defeat the enemy. He gives us instructions for our daily lives and prayer keeps us connected, so that we may be in tune to hearing His voice. All warriors need to be in touch with their commanding officers in order to win a victorious battle. After the battle has been fought, we can look forward to receiving a hero’s reward from the Father himself. Always pray in the Spirit and allow God’s blessing to flow through you. He is always just a prayer away. And after receiving the answer to prayer, never forget to give God a praise, just as Miriam did, for all the things that He has done.