Praise in the Prison

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

If anyone had a reason to be depressed, it was Paul and Silas. They were preaching the Gospel, and for this, they were caught, beaten and their clothes torn. After being publicly humiliated, they were put in prison in stocks and chains and shamed as criminals.

Yet, they did not allow their circumstances to cause them to question the providence of God. Instead of seeing a desperate situation, they trusted in God's purposes. Beaten and bleeding, they sang praises and hymns to God.

"But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:25)

Their praise in prison prepared the way for God to do something incredible in that Philippian jail.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately, all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were loosed (Acts 16:26)

Three significant things happened:
1. The foundations of the prison were shaken.
2. All the doors were opened
3. Everyone's chains were loosed.

Their praises not only opened their door but opened 'all' doors.
Their praises not only loosened their chains but 'everyone's' chains.
You praising the Lord in all situations will also open doors and loosen the chains of those that matter most to you.

Also, had they been murmuring and grumbling about how a loving God could let them land in such a terrible place, they would have missed an opportunity to lead the jailer and his entire family to the Lord.

Some of you are going through intense persecution because of your faith in the Lord. Don't give up; hold onto the Lord. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. (Psalm 34:19). Don't stop serving the Lord but continue to give Him the praise. Your prison is about to become an arena of praise.

Praise in the Prison

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