Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1, ESV)

Early Sunday morning, March 15, the Holy Spirit placed two songs on my heart: “Because of Who You Are” covered separately by gospel singers Vicki Yohe and Martha Munizzi, and “Glorious” by Martha Munizzi. BOTH songs were confirmed to me a couple of hours later in two separate instances whereupon both songs were played. I was getting ready for church and marveled at hearing the first song play (“Glorious”) and laughed knowing that God is so intentional in letting us know that He is very real and very much a living, personal God who is very present and attentive to us! It was the drive to church less than an hour later when the second song, “Because of Who You Are” was sent to me in our church prayer group chat by a dear sister in Christ who sent the song to bless us, not knowing the significance the affirmation would have for me.

But all of this occurred the day after our Gathered in His Name Intercessory Prayer and Outreach which, by the Holy Spirit’s leading, was focused solely on praising the Lord! A couple days prior I sensed the Lord placing it on my heart for us to worship Him during the Saturday outreach. A couple days prior to, I shared with Andrea that I was experiencing spiritual weariness attributed to godly sorrow over the wickedness in the world. It was heavy. I read and resonated with all three chapters from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk, as he expressed his complaints to God as His justice seemed elusive in a world filled with evil and violence. That was Habakkuk’s complaint then in 600 BC—and it was my deep cry now in 2026. Habakkuk opens his petition and cry in verse 2 which begins, “How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?” (NIV)

I greatly appreciate that Habakkuk felt that he could honestly express his sorrow and frustration with Almighty God and didn’t have to be polite about it. He is angry and understandably so. The LORD, in his lovingkindness then answers Habakkuk in verse 5:

“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am doing something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” (NIV)

The back-and-forth exchange given between Habakkuk and the LORD continues even after Habakkuk issues a second complaint and the LORD answers him again in Chapter 2. The conversation then concludes with a 19-verse prayer by Habakkuk in Chapter 3 that begins: “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (verse 1) to verses 17-19: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, YET I will REJOICE in the LORD, I will be JOYFUL in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (NIV)

As dire as things were, Habakkuk was led to praise the Lord, “standing in awe” of His deeds. I was led to do likewise in my lament: to praise the Lord!

I was led to share the following scriptures with our group to join me in praising the Lord and for those who were available to gather in person, we would praise the Lord collectively: Psalm 148-150, Psalm 95-100, Psalm 103-105, Psalm 63, Psalm 28:7-9, and Isaiah 25. The passages reveal and honor the Lord’s surpassing greatness, His power, His splendor above the earth and the heavens; acknowledge Him as “the great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:3, NIV) and implore us to “sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1, NIV). Hallelujah!!

We missed our sister Andrea who was on work travel that week, and several group members were unable to join due to prior commitments. I was joined by our sister in Christ, Titi, as well as a surprise visit from our esteemed and wise elder brother in Christ, who we at church lovingly refer to as, “Mr. Tony.”  😊Mr. Tony offered Sister Titi and I prayer and words of encouragement regarding praise as one of our spiritual weapons. He said that praise engages the angels and fights the unseen.

(From L-R: Nicole, Mr. Tony and Titi gather for prayer and worship!)

Both sister Titi and I joyfully praised the LORD in Word and song! It felt like a feast of His goodness as we praised Him!! The heaviness I felt lifted and something within me shifted. Even as I write this several days later, I am in awe of the exponential joy and peace along with the mental and spiritual shift/disposition I now have. I didn’t praise the Lord to gain something from Him though He gave anyway!

What happens when we praise God?

• Shifts our perspective from the issue(s) to His omnipotent power.
• Invites God’s presence, creating an intimate space and allows for spiritual refreshment and deeper closeness with the Lord.
• Strengthens our faith in difficult times.
• Brings joy and peace, acts as a spiritual antidote to depression, fear, grief or worry.
• Unleashes spiritual power.
• Fights things in the unseen.

“Because of who you are, I give you glory. Because of who you are, I give you praise. Lord, I worship you because of who you are.”

-Nicole