Did you go on vacation this summer? Where did you go? Perhaps you’re planning a late summer getaway before the arrival of Labor Day.

Whether you travel to a new destination or a familiar cabin on a lake, it is good to get away and take a break from work and school. Time away can be refreshing and often you gain a new perspective on life.

But, vacations don’t last forever. All too quickly, it’s time to come home. The closer you get, the faster you want to arrive. Finally, your home appears. Carrying suitcases, backpacks, and bags of “stuff”, you walk through the door. Big exhale! You’re home! Oh, it’s so good to be home.

Hopefully, when you think of your home, you think of comfort, security, safety, enjoyment. It’s where you can be yourself, where you can relax.

Does God feel that way about His home? Yes, He is in heaven, and yes, someday He will dwell with man on earth. (Revelation 21:1-3) But, the Bible mentions another HOME for our Father God. PRAISE. God is “at home” in our praises.

Psalm 22:3 KJV says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” The NASB version says simply, “Yet You are holy, O You are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.”

Jack R. Taylor says this in The Hallelujah Factor-- “Praise is where God lives. It is his permanent address. While God is everywhere, he is not everywhere manifested. He is at home in praise and, being at home, he manifests himself best as God! When you or I choose to make God at home through praise, we invite him to act ‘at home.’ He is enthroned and liberated to act mightily in praise.”

One of the best examples of this in Scripture is our OT reading for today, II Chronicles 20.

The sons of Moab and Ammon came to make war against Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. Jehoshaphat was afraid, and he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. Then all of Judah gathered as Jehoshaphat addressed the Lord. He recounted God’s power and previous protection. Then Jehoshaphat stated the current problem, (vs 10-11), the powerlessness of the people, (vs 12a), and their concentration on God—“our eyes are on you.” (vs. 12b)

The Spirit of God, through Jahaziel, gave God’s answer to Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. “Don’t fear, the battle is not yours but God’s. You need not fight. Stand and see the salvation of the Lord.”

The next morning, singers went out before the army, singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his lovingkindness is everlasting.” WHEN they began singing and praising, the enemy was ambushed by one another. No one escaped. Jehoshaphat and his people found goods and garments among the enemies, and it took them 3 days to retrieve it all.

The people’s praise prompted God to act. No other recorded military battle compares to the miracle that happened that day.

Psalm 8:2 says, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”

How marvelous is our God. He hears us. He fights for us. He rewards us.

Did you start your morning in praise to God? What a difference it can make. God desires to move in your life, to guide you, to comfort you, to defend and protect you.

Allow Him to reside each day in your praises. And discover the joy He has planned for your life.