But
at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so
that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors
were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Acts 16:25-26
Paul and Silas were traveling all
over praying for people and preaching the Gospel. They were evangelizing as
Jesus commands us to do in Mark 16:15, as He says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Paul
& Silas were out in the world doing the will of God. Yet, they were beaten with
no cause and thrown in prison unjustly (Acts 16:22-24). Now if you were like me
you would ask, What kind of reward is
that for preaching the Good News? These men were doing what the Lord had
commanded but they were beaten and thrown in prison.
Certainly, times come when you find
yourself doing all that you know to be right. You are serving the Lord with all
your heart, exercising humility, loving your enemies, and exhibiting faith you didn’t
even know you possessed. But somehow, everything is going wrong in your life. You
are treated unfairly, all the doors of opportunity are closed, your prayers don’t
seem to be heard, and God seems so far away from your circumstances. The
natural response for any human being would be to become discouraged,
discontented, grumble and complain against God. Some would even stop praying
and stop the work that the Lord has commanded them to do. But look at Paul and
Silas…their response is astounding. Acts 16:25 says, “But at midnight, Paul and
Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to
them.” While others were sleeping or wallowing in their sorrows, they were wide-awake,
encouraging themselves in God because they knew He was in control. They were
praying because they knew their future was in His hands. The fact that the
other prisoners heard them indicates that they were loud enough for everyone to
hear. They weren’t silent with their prayers. They sang aloud to God,
worshipping and praising Him.
When it looks like all hope is lost
and nothing seems to be working out, don’t complain but pray. Worship the Lord
in Spirit and in truth. Pray as much as you can. Pray in the morning, on your
lunch break, before bed…in the midnight hour. We are to trust in the Lord with
all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all
our ways and He will make our paths straight before us (Proverbs 3:5-6). Rest
in God. Trust in God. Keep doing all that you know to be right. Continue to do the
will of God. Be steadfast in prayer and praise. When you do, suddenly your
change will come. The Bible says, Suddenly
there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were
shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were
loosed (Acts 16:26). The doors that were closed will open, the windows of
opportunity will come, and the chains that once held you back will not only be
loosened for you but for the people around you. The Bible says, everyone’s chains were loosed. There is
deliverance in your prayers and there is deliverance in your praise. Therefore,
be steadfast in God.
The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One will save, He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
Be Blessed