KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:25 “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

Paul and Silas were beaten, locked up in prison. They were kept in the dungeon. The Bible said that at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God, and the prisoners heard them. Don’t be shy to express your faith in a way that glorifies God.

These were bound in hands and feet, yet the mouths and hearts were not bound. Their God was also not bound. They expressed their gratitude to the Lord. These men did not complain or speak against God. Some Christians easily get bitter when things go wrong with them.

There are two powers of influence in this life. God and Satan, good and evil. God is working all things for your good, and the devil works to destroy you. Your responses determine which of these you have chosen to have the upper hand and bring His purposes to pass. When you complain and murmur, you have chosen to align with Satan. In such a situation, God, our father, is helpless to do anything. When you maintain your gratitude unto God, honouring His word that says “in all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”. The will of God is not that wrong event. God did not cause it. God did not cause the Roman citizen to arrest Paul, although He allowed it. His will is that you give thanks unto Him. This is what pleases Him.

When they decided to praise the Lord to the hearing of the other prisoners, the Bible said there was suddenly a great earthquake so that the foundation of the prison was shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s bands were loosed. (Acts 16:26)

This was never a coincidence. It was a direct response from the Spirit of God. God’s power will show up anytime men place Him first in all they do. What do you do in your moments of disappointment?

Do you act like Job’s wife suggested, that is, to curse God and die? No, give God the praise. Show an attitude of gratitude. We must be grateful at all times.

Psalm 92:1,2,10,11 reads “…It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord and to give praises unto thy name, O most high. To show thy faithfulness every night. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn. I shall be anointed with fresh oil. My eye shall also see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire on the wicked that rise up against me.”

A heart filled with gratitude would experience the following:

1. His horn or strength would he exalted

2. He shall be anointed with fresh oil

3. His eyes shall see his desire on his enemies

4. His ears shall hear his desire for his enemies

This is exactly what Apostle Paul and Silas experienced. Never stop being grateful to God.

 CONFESSION

Praise is beautiful unto the Lord. No matter the challenges of life, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

FURTHER STUDIES:

Psalms 100:4-5 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalms 116:17 “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD”.