About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas had been beaten and locked in prison. Under such horrible condition, they managed to praise God in hymns and pray to their Father in Heaven. Under this kind of pressure, their faith caught the attention of the other prisoners who listened to them. We need to be reminded that over the years of Christian witness, some of the most effective times of evangelism happened because Christians remained faithful and joyous people despite persecution and harassment. Nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use them to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places.
When we praise God we are blessed. In praise, God begins to soften our hearts to show us more about His nature. In prayer, God begins to mold our hearts like His. In prayer He reveals Himself to us.
Spend time praising Him. Praise God for all the blessings He had poured out on you and your Church.
For the LORD your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song. Zephaniah 3:17
The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16
Dear Lord,
I pray that you will make me a loving, respected, and forceful witness for Jesus. I ask this not so that I can boast, but so that others can more fully know your grace and come to Jesus to be saved. Thank you for your daily blessings.
In Jesus name I pray.
Amen.
1 comment:
Paul and Silas are two "timeless" example we all should follow! When we're under the pressures of Satan's work, we need to sing a song and pray to our Father in Heaven. Especially, when we come to the altar confessing our sins and asking the church to pray for those in need of prayer, it will hit at the home of everyone's heart!
"But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"" 1 Cor. 14:25-25
You mentioned that "nothing should limit our prayer and praise. God will use them to reach the hearts of those in the most difficult of places." Amen! But sadly, the deaf are afraid to share their burdens and sins in fear that a rumor about them will spread among the small deaf world! Satan limited them from doing God's will! But who cares! If they are talking about us, "GOOD!" That's exactly the way it is supposed to be. That's evangelism - spreading the good news!!
Don't let Satan limit you from doing the Lord's work in confession, prayer and praise!
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