Phil. 4:4-7, Josh. 5:13-6:20, Psalm 145, Acts 16:16-34, 2 Chron. 20:1-30.

 “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NKJV).

 It’s always easy to shout with joy to the Lord when we feel joy. It’s not so easy, however, when things are bad, when we are in the worst situations imaginable, when the crucible heats up. Yet, it’s precisely then that we need — perhaps more than ever — to praise God, for praise is a means of helping us sustain faith.

 Indeed, praise can transform even our darkest circumstances, maybe not in the sense of its changing the facts around us, but in the sense that it can change us, and those around us, in a way that helps us face challenges.

 Praise is faith in action. It may not always be natural to us, but when we practice praise so that it becomes a natural part of our lives, it has the power both to convert and to conquer.

 The Week at a Glance: What is praise? How could praise be such a powerful spiritual weapon in difficult circumstances? How can praise transform us and the situation around us?

 Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 27.