Praise precedes the breakthrough – but how? Jericho was a fortified city with no clear entrance. Remember? A strong city like no other! Joshua and his army did not know how to make entrance into the city. So what did they do? Their orders from their commander and chief were to march around the city as a victorious army; but they had to march around the city in a specific way – in silence. What? In silence? You can read about this historic destruction of the city of Jericho as found in Joshua 6. “You shall march around the city, all the men of war. And you shall go around the city once and you shall do it six days.”

They marched around the city, but listen to this. Joshua’s Army did not release their typical war cry. They didn’t release their big triumphant chants and declarations; it says they just marched around the city. They did it one day, followed by a second day, a third day, and yet a fourth day. I’m sure, that by the fifth day they wanted to do something else. You would have thought by the sixth day they would have had a different strategy. But they were given the same orders to carry out with the same peculiar end of the day flat ending. Silence!

Finally, on the seventh day, they received different orders which included the seven priests. In verse four it states, “the seven priests shall bare seven trumpets, rams’ horns, before the ark.” Ponder this, seven is the number of completion. So let’s continue, “You shall march around the city seven times. And the priests shall blow trumpets.” At the end of the seventh time around, at end of the seventh day, after seven times around, then the priest would blow the trumpets. Finally the people were given the orders to give a big shout.

Let’s just chew on that seventh day for a moment. The sun is hot. It’s a desert area. They’re sweating. Someone has maybe stepped on your sandal. They must be silent. They were actually more than likely on some form of a fast, but I’m not going to tell you what kind of fast they’re on yet. Third time around this guy in front of you is getting kind of annoying. Fourth time around this is frustrating. You know, is everybody really in step or not guys? Sixth time around in one day. At least previously, they only went around one time each day. They were probably exhausted. They’re not talking at all, but man would like give a word to someone! Seven times around in one day.

A Shout of Purity and Praise

I’m sure there were many reasons for a lot of complaining and negative speech. “Where did these war strategies come from anyway? Time for an insurrection, anyone?” But instead there was a whole lot of silence. And there was more than likely a whole lot of pent-up frustration. Do you realize what went on for seven days? Do you realize what went on at the end of the seventh day? Then they gave a shout! Seven is complete. Seven, seven total double completeness. No wonder the walls came tumbling down because they gave the shout of their life. Remember, praise precedes the breakthrough!

Over the years, I have given out rubber bands. You wear them for seven days. In fact, I have a rubber band on my wrist right now and I am wearing it for 21 days. When you recognize you are walking in the spirit of negativity or grumbling or complaining – you snap the band against your wrist or arm. It hurts! You do this as a reminder that we don’t enter His gates with grumbling or complaining or by comparing yourself to someone else, but through thanksgiving and through praise. Because praise precedes the breakthrough!

Do you realize that part of the victory of the battle of Jericho was that they went on a fast of grumbling, complaining and negative speech? And then when they released that shout of praise, it was a shout of purity, unity and one that was truly glorifying God!

Tapping into the High Praise of God

It is no wonder, that God moved in a supernatural way and the walls came tumbling down. Wow. I think God’s ways are pretty awesome. So I’m going to do this again myself because I need to once again. I know I need to go on a fast in a spiritual warfare manner of removing grumbling, complaining and negative speech and putting back on my garment of praise.

In our Global Prayer Storm, I want us to go on fast of grumbling and complaining. In our application, consider joining me and getting out an old fashion rubber band and placing it right on your wrist. And when you slip into negative speech and into grumbling, then snap out of it and replace it with Thanksgiving and Praise instead!

So let’s be tapping into the high praise of God. So we’re going to do what? We are going to remind ourselves that walls will come tumbling down when we enter God’s Chosen Fast. Sacrifice releases power. And one of the fasts that we need to do is removing grumbling, complaining and negative speech. Let’s cast off the spirit of heaviness and put on the garment of praise. Remember, praise always precedes a breakthrough!

with James W. Goll and the GPS Team

Prayer for Spirit of Conviction

Father God, thank You that the principles of your Word show us how sacrifice releases power. In our Global Prayer Storm efforts, we’re going to unite together for such a time as this, by casting off the garments of heaviness. And part of this is by putting away grumbling, complaining and negativity, and then putting on the garments of Thanksgiving and Praise. Oh we want to be wrapped in the clean white linen garments of Your righteousness.

Therefore, I’m asking for the Spirit of Conviction to follow upon me and to fall upon my wonderful partners around the world. Would You release a fresh wave of the spirit of conviction concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment to come upon us? Even where a part of our heart, a part of our soul has grown hard? We want to be revived by Your great grace and by Your Holy Spirit and Word of Truth. So we choose to cooperate with Your ways, and put away with the old nature and put on gratefulness because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, that we would be thankful in all things. Amen and Amen!

A Psalm for Thanksgiving – Psalm 100:1-5 NASV

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; [We are] His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving, [And] His courtyards with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting And His faithfulness is to all generations.