Day: September 17, 2023

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 the 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(34)

Lord, we magnify Your Name for
there is none like You; we thank
and praise You for grace in our lives.
When we face difficult situations
and may be tempted to give up;
remind us Lord of Paul and Silas
in prison & how You helped them.
Then put Praise in our mouth;
for You are our 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 great; and there are things
that I don’t quite understand.
What are You doing in this situation?
What do You want to do thru me?
Although I may be hurting inside;
but may Your sovereign will be done.
I am open to what You want to do;
and help me Lord join You at work,
incl declaring Your salvation. Amen.

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of the book of Acts
is to give an accurate account of
the birth and growth of the church.
On Monday, we learn from Acts 1
that Christ Made Us His Witnesses.
On Tuesday, we learn from Acts 2
that Christ Provides Power Source.
On Wednesday we learn fr Acts 9
that God Arranges Divine Encounter.
On Thursday we learn fr Acts 13/14
that God Acts on Earnest Prayers.
On Friday, we learn from Acts 16
that Praising God Releases Power.
On Saturday, we learn from Acts 17
that Almighty God Always Near Us.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You made us Your witnesses,
and arrange divine encounters;
for You are near us, the source
of power and releases power;
for You truly keep Your promises
and act on earnest prayers. Amen.