Summertime StoriesSample

Acts 16:25-26

25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 

26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!

Paul and Silas are traveling from town to town, preaching the Gospel message of Jesus. While they are traveling, Paul and Silas get thrown into prison for casting a demon out of a young woman. They are beaten with rods, thrown into the inner dungeon, and their feet placed in stocks to ensure they didn’t escape. Talk about a terrible day. Now, if I were Paul or Silas, I would have a lot of questions for God. I would be asking, “Why am I being persecuted for doing a good thing? What purpose do you have for me being in prison?” 

It can be very easy to look at our present circumstances and then ask God why? We demand to know why He would allow us to go through difficult or uncomfortable circumstances. However, we see that Paul and Silas have a different response. Instead of questioning God or being upset with Him, they begin to pray and sing hymns. They begin to praise God despite their problems! 

What happens next is amazing. The Holy Spirit breaks into the prison and not only does He release Paul and Silas’ chains, but every prisoner in the jail as well. Instead of focusing on their circumstances, they focused on their God. Worship brings God into our circumstances, and just like Paul and Silas, we don’t know who else is going to be set free when we exalt the Lord even in painful moments. Because of Paul and Silas’ worship, others were able to witness the delivering power of Jesus. Let’s praise God today and invite HIM into our circumstances. Remember, you never know who might be listening while you’re worshiping!