TOPIC: PRAISING IN CHAINS
Bible Reading: Psalm 4-6; Acts 16:16-40.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Acts 16:25 (KJV)
People often praise God in appreciation of things He has done for them. Very few further praise Him in appreciation of what He would do. Psalm 22:3 (KJV) says of God, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” God so much love the praises of his children that He dwells in them. No wonder Moses said God is fearful in praises (Exodus 15:11). He knows that God does fearful things when He is praised. No wonder David declared in 1 Chronicles 16:25 (KJV), “For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.”
But so much about appreciating God for blessings He has bestowed or about to bestow on you. What about when you are in trouble, under serious persecution, or on trials, what do you do? The natural thing is to pray to God Almighty. But Paul and Silas showed that God does the unusual visitation when praises are offered in such circumstances. Why? Because it is unusual for people to remember to praise and worship God in such a state but that is the best time to access God’s throne. The Psalmist said in Psalm 100:4 (KJV), “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Paul and Silas entered the inner court of God with their praises as stated in Acts 16:25 (KJV), “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” And the bible accounts in Acts 16:26 (KJV) that they got an unusual visitation. “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 bands were loosed.”
When God visits, every chain is broken and mountains are leveled. So whenever a challenge or trouble comes your way and you appear chained by such, just Praise God with all the joy you can muzzle and expect God’s visitation. A reader of this devotional is going through emotional trauma, find time today and stay in a quiet place and praise God with all your heart and you will experience a divine visitation that will give a permanent solution to the challenge of your life.
Action point: Take a minimum of 30 minutes today and worship God with all your heart.
pastor Joel Ezeugo