Worship More and Worry Less: 30 Days of PraiseSample

Our faith blesses others. Did you know that? Other people are listening. But more than that, our praise can help free others from their chains of worry and anxiety. Don’t believe me? Where am I getting this? Well, it’s in our reading today. Paul and Silas were stripped, whipped, and thrown into prison. But despite their predicament, placed in the inner cell with chains around their bloody feet, these men started a praise party at midnight. Luke records, “ . . . Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them” Acts 16:25. And then something mah-velous happened. An earthquake shook the prison’s foundation, and every single prison door opened. Every. Single. One.

Their worship opened prison doors. I pray mine will do that for others. How about you? Remember, as you purposely worship and praise the Lord today, even if you’re still in a bad place, your praise may free someone else because He dwells in the praise of His people. Where praise resounds, Holy Spirit comes. It’s not up to us to release the chains, it’s just our job to worship.

Journal

Silas and Paul were singing hymns, but praise and worship don’t always involve music. They can be spoken, too. If you are like me, and you can’t carry a tune in a bucket, one way you can share praise and worship is simply sharing with someone what God has done in your life. Write a prayer asking the Lord to put someone on your path today with whom you can share the faithfulness and goodness of God. Do some singing too. Turn the worship music up and sing out loud—even if your bucket has a hole in it. Let’s break some chains today!