Praise Is a Weapon: Entering His Gates with Thanksgiving

There’s a moment in every believer’s life when the atmosphere around them feels heavy—when progress seems slow, prayer feels dry, and life feels like a cycle of repetition. But there is a hidden door, often ignored but always effective. It’s called praise.

Praise isn’t noise. It’s not emotion. It’s not entertainment. Praise is a key, and thanksgiving is the door it unlocks.

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” — Psalm 100:4

In the kingdom of God, access is granted through gratitude.

The Heart That Remembers

One of the subtle attacks of the enemy is to tempt us into forgetfulness. When we forget what God has done, we lose our joy. And when joy dries up, our strength fails.

That’s why praise isn’t just a response to victory—it’s the fuel that produces it.

Bishop David Oyedepo, in his powerful book Understanding the Power of Praise, teaches that praise is more than celebration. It is a spiritual force that triggers divine intervention. It is God's protocol for deliverance, healing, and supernatural breakthrough.

He writes, "When you praise God, you remind Him of His integrity. And when God’s integrity is invoked, He shows up."

Why Praise?

• Praise shifts the atmosphere: No matter the setting, when praise is lifted, chains fall. Just ask Paul and Silas.

• Praise provokes divine presence: God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). That’s not poetry—it’s reality.

• Praise silences the enemy: Out of the mouth of babes, strength (praise) is ordained to stop the avenger (Matthew 21:16).

From Complaint to Command

Let’s be honest. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to point at what hasn’t changed. But when you choose praise over murmuring, you’re choosing to partner with heaven.

Here’s what that might look like in your everyday life:

• Instead of saying, “This year has been hard,” say, “Lord, thank You that I’m still standing.”

• Instead of “Why hasn’t it happened yet?” say, “God, I praise You because You’re never late.”

• Instead of focusing on the delay, celebrate the faithfulness that kept you during it.

Praise doesn’t deny reality—it exalts God above it.

People Praising in Worship to God

Devotional Reflection: A Daily Reset

Try this for 5 days:

• Start your morning with 3 written things you’re thankful for.

• Turn on a worship song that celebrates who God is—not just what He’s done.

• Speak aloud: “Today, I choose joy. Today, I enter His gates with thanksgiving.”

• End your day by praising God for something that happened—even if small.

You will be shocked at how light returns to your spirit.

Final Thought

Sometimes, what we call a delay is really a divine setup—to teach us to praise Him before the walls fall. That’s what faith does.

So the next time you walk past your bookshelf or the bookstore’s online shelves, look for books that remind you of who God is, not just what He gives. Books like Understanding the Power of Praise by Bishop David Oyedepo stir something deep inside. They remind you that praise is not optional—it’s spiritual warfare.

This week, lift your voice. Dance in your kitchen. Sing while you wait. Thank Him in the hallway before the door even opens.

Praise isn’t what we do after God moves. It’s what makes Him move.