Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (James 5:13) James was a pastor and teacher who addressed real-life issues. He didn’t give a ten-step formula for how to deal with affliction or some theological essay about the joy of a believer. Instead, James asked two simple questions and gave two clear commands. Are you afflicted? Pray. Are you cheerful? Sing psalms.James taught that praise is the appropriate response of the believer, regardle

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's band

And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the Lord fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about. (2 Chronicles 20:29-30) When God fights for you, people will notice. Victory has a sound that travels. The neighboring kingdoms around Israel didn’t learn about Israel’s strategy or skills. They only heard about the God who delivered and stepped in on their behalf