Dismiss the Devil

Singing alone in God's presence is one of the most neglected aspects of personal worship. At least forty-one Psalms specifically refer to "singing praises" to the Lord.

The Psalmist wrote for us to sing praises almost as if it were the most important thing he could write: "Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises" (Psalm 47:6).

The early Methodists put such value on singing that they regularly carried their hymnals with their Bibles. Mary Slosser, a godly missionary with the Chinese exclaimed, "I sing the doxology and dismiss the devil!" Amy Carmichael also spoke of the power of singing: "I believe truly that Satan cannot endure it and so slips out of the room--more or less!--when there is a true song."

Having a hymnal open to songs of worship that we can express with our spirit as well as our voices often brings us into God's presence.

Thank You, Jesus, for the joy that singing praises to You brings.

"Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! " (Psalm 147:1).

Day 8 (of 40 Days of Prayer)
Please pray that each of the speakers and musicians involved in Come to the Fire will deliberately choose to find time to be alone with God. Pray that everyone who has a part in the conference will pray until the Spirit can freely direct.