Praising God Releases Power
Paul’s second missionary journey
begins with a new companion
– Silas. The team soon doubles
in size as Timothy and Luke are
added. Initially given a warm
reception in Philippi, Paul & Silas
soon experience flogging and
Imprisonment for disrupting the
profitable soothsaying business.
But God uses even this to bring
a jailer and his family to salvation.
Lord, we Claim Power of Praise:
Around midnight, Paul and Silas
were praying and Singing Hymns
to God, and the other prisoners
were listening. Suddenly, there was
a great earthquake…All the doors
flew open and the chains of every
prisoner fell off. The jailer woke up
to see the prison doors wide open.
He assumed the prisoners had
escaped, so he drew his sword
to kill himself. But Paul shouted:
Stop! Don’t kill yourself!
we are all here! (Acts 16:25-28).
Trembling with fear, the jailer…
fell down before Paul and Silas.
And he brought them out and said:
Sirs what must I do to be saved?”
So they said: Believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
you and your household (v29-31).
Then he brought them into his house
and set a meal before them. He and
his entire household rejoiced because
they all believed in God (v34).
Lord, we magnify Your Name for
there is none like You; we thank
and praise You for grace in our lives.
When I face difficult circumstances
and may be tempted to give up;
remind me Lord of Paul and Silas in
prison & how You intervened for them.
Then put words of Praise in my mouth;
for You are my hope and saviour
in the midst of troubles. Amen.
Lord, I purpose to praise and
worship You in every situation;
for things bow to Your Presence
when I bow to Your Presence.
Trust that You will respond to my
praise of You, sometimes visibly
in power and sometimes invisibly.
But either way, Your Presence
is real when my heart is in syn
with the truth of Your glory. Amen.
Lord, the circumstances may not
be pretty and there are things
that I don’t quite understand.
What are You doing in this situation?
What do You want to do through me?
Although I may be hurting but
may Your sovereign will be done.
I’m open to whatever You want to do;
and help me Lord join You at work,
incl declaring Your salvation. Amen.
