Sometimes praise and worship are the battle. After praise and worship, what you wanted to pray for is already done. I've seen many people healed while praising God.
Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, faced an impossible battle. In 2 Chronicles 20, a huge army from several nations was only 25 miles away. Before he even learned about it, he prayed.
What was God's strategy? Worship. They sent the singers ahead of the army, praising God. As they sang, the enemy armies turned on each other, and Israel never had to fight in that battle.
Psalm 149:6 reveals the truth: God's high and holy praises are weapons of war. When you open your mouth in praise, you release God's power to bring victory into your situation.
I lived in Hong Kong for about 12 and a half years. There are altars in almost every business. Street shrines and neighborhood temples are everywhere. Most apartments have altars where sacrifices are made and incense is burned. Without realizing it, the people around us were worshiping demons. When people have altars to demons and actively sacrifice to them, territorial spirits will come into these homes.
A couple in our home fellowship told us they couldn't sleep at night. They heard strange sounds in the kitchen—pots and pans clanging, cupboards opening, and things falling to the floor. It was more than a little scary.
We went to their home, and I immediately sensed a dark presence there, but I didn’t know what to do. So I asked Jesus, “What do you want us to do?” I felt He said, “Just praise me.”
We walked around the apartment praising Jesus in each room. By the time we got to the bedrooms, we were rejoicing, praising, and worshiping God. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise in the kitchen, and we all sensed a breakthrough.
The spirit was gone. It never came back.
The good news is that the greatest territorial spirit is the Holy Spirit. He inhabits the praises of His people. Praise and worship bring God's presence into your problems, your home, your business—wherever you are.
Praise isn’t just worship. It’s warfare. How amazing is that? I've seen miracles happen when people praise God. You will too.