‘Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! ‘ Acts of the Apostles 16:25-26(NLT)
‘Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:4-7(NLT)
‘Always be joyful. ‘ 1 Thessalonians 5:16(NLT)
Paul and Silas were imprisoned for their faith (see Acts 16). Though they were in chains, they continued to sing songs of praise to God. The other prisoners heard their praises, which were a testimony to their faith. God responded to their faith and shook the foundation of the prison walls, breaking the chains of all of the prisoners. Through this event, the jailer and his family came to faith in Christ.
Praise in the midst of pain not only reaffirms our own faith, but it also serves as a powerful testimony to others. The result of our faithfulness may not be an earth-shattering experience like Paul’s, but it will bring us peace. Our words of praise do not fall on deaf ears. They bring glory to the God who sustains us in all things.
What words of praise do you need to bring to your Heavenly Father today? We are to come to Him in all things with an attitude of thanksgiving. When we do, we come to understand how much God has blessed us in our lives.
Father God, thank You for giving me this day to praise You. You have given me this breath I breathe and this life I live. Everything I have is a gift from You. Help me grow in gratefulness. Thank You for the gift of Your Son, in whom I have life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
from Love God Greatly: Fear & Anxiety