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 didn’t sing praises and pray to be freed, they sang praises and prayed because they were free!” And, their freedom produced freedom for the others as well.
Anytime the people of God would “praise” in the Old Testament during a battle it caused confusion in the enemy’s camp. That’s because there was no logical reason to praise. Therefore, it was confusing as to why they were praising God, in spite of the circumstances that they were facing. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas went though it, but they still prayed and they still praised God. It didn’t make sense. They had no logical reason to do so. However, they prayed and praised in spite of their unfortunate circumstances. We all go through things, we all experience difficult times- those things that we wouldn’t choose! The issue is not that! The issue is how do you respond during these difficult and trying times? Do you praise or pout? Do you pray or plead your case? Do you talk to God and ask for peace or do talk to others and expect pity? Do you sing a sad song for others to hear or do you sing praises to God- in spite of how may you feel or what you may be facing. You see, when people go through tough times they tend to blame, regret or complain. And, when people go through good times they tend to rejoice, praise and celebrate. The opposite was true for Paul and Silas, they prayed and praised in spite of their less than fortunate circumstances. They rejoiced when they had no reason to rejoice. But, their praying and praise, soon gave them reason to rejoice. Praise changes the environment! Prayer brings God into your situation and into your circumstances- a God who sees everything, knows everything and a God who can do anything! Ask God for the grace to praise Him in spite of what you may be feeling or facing and see what He does.
*Remember this: Your response to what has happened may determine the outcome of what happens next. Paul and Silas prayed and praised God in spite of their problems and pain. Paul and Silas did the opposite of what most of us would probably do in that same situation. They looked up and brought God into their situation, circumstances and surroundings. The prayed to God and praised God and God heard them. God hears your prayers and He inhabits your praises! Their decision shifted their atmosphere and changed their circumstances and yours can too. Paul and Silas chose to pray and praise in a painful and pivotal moment and you can too. You have a choice! You will go through some things. Isaiah says, that *when you pass through the waters that God will be with you and the waters will not overtake you. And, *when you go through the fire it will not burn you. *When denotes that you will go through it, but the Word also declares that He will go with you as you are going through it! Through means just that, it means through! You don’t live there, you don’t set up camp, you travel through- on the way to what’s next! You keep going! You will experience less than desirable moments in this life. But, Jesus said, “In this life you will experience tribulation, but take courage for I have overcome the world.” You are an overcomer through Christ Jesus and the battle has already been won- in Him, by Him and through Him. When you and I face trials, tests and tribulations it should prove 2 things: (1) Your faith in God. (2) And Gods faithfulness towards you. I can tell you today, that God is faithful!
The key to overcoming any trial is to get through it, and to get on with it! That is, without letting it affect you in a negative way. Paul and Silas did just that! Don’t let what you go through get on you or in you. It took 40 days to get the children of Israel out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to Egypt of out the children of Israel. There are numerous Bible stories where people have endured hardships, but didn’t look like it, smell like it, sound like it, talk like it or act like it! For example: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came through the fire and didn’t even smell like smoke! And, the only thing that was burnt up was what bound them and what bound them was put on by man! You may have been through it, or you may be going through it right now. But, you don’t have to smell like it! *”It” could be a divorce, a bad home life, a difficult marriage, a betrayal, a bad church history or a difficult work setting. Paul and Silas didn’t smell like misfortune and you don’t have to either. But, the reason they didn’t is because they chose to pray and praise, instead of pouting or complaining. Don’t just go through what your going through- grow through it and learn from it!
Paul and Silas were in a hinge moment- they were in a pivotal position. Verse twenty-five of Acts chapter sixteen says, “But at Midnight Paul and Silas began to pray and sing.” Midnight signifies a new day. It signifies new mercies, new beginnings, new opportunities! Noon and midnight are hinge moments- they are unique segments of time. When it strikes noon it switches from am to pm and when it strikes midnight it switches from pm to am. However, the reason we call them noon and midnight is because they are segues of time. It’s not quite afternoon and it’s not quite past midnight. However, at midnight, the day changes! And it’s a new day… Midnight is the transition time from one day to the next – the moment when the date and day actually change. Paul and Silas began to pray and sing praises at midnight. It was new day! They didn’t let what they went through yesterday- get on them or in them today. Some things need to stay in the past. They need to stay in yesterday! They declared, “This is a new day!” What happened yesterday was yesterday! At midnight the day changes and it becomes a new day, with new opportunities, new mercies, new grace and new hope for whatever you may have to face! Therefore, you can say with Paul and Silas- that was yesterday!
You can say:
I may have been done wrong, but that was yesterday!
I may have been falsely accused, but that was yesterday!
I may have been overlooked, but that was yesterday!
I may have been disappointed and become frustrated, but that was yesterday!
I may have felt like giving up and quitting, but that was yesterday!
I may have got fed up and messed up, but that was yesterday!
Today is a new day and I will declare the goodness of the Lord!
I don’t understand everything that happens or why, but I trust God and I will praise Him!
I realize everything that happens is not God, sometimes it’s people, sometimes it’s the devil, and sometimes it’s my own foolishness! I also know everything that happens is not good. However, I do believe that God is good and I know that He will work all things for my good! *(Gen. 50:20 / Rom. 8:28)
When you are faced with a less than favorable circumstance, begin to praise God in that pivotal moment!
Praise Him because He’s worthy!
Praise Him because He’s good!
Praise Him because He’s faithful!
Praise Him because He’s working all things for your good!
Praise Him because He is a God of new beginnings!
Throw your hands up in the midnight hour and declare over yourself… that was yesterday!
I pray chains fall off – doors open up and things unlock and change for you right now- I pray FREEDOM, in Jesus name! Amen
