AND SUDDENLY!

"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Acts 16:25-26

I love this account!  I know I've written on these verses before, but as I read them again this morning, I couldn't help but write about it again!

After being beaten and bound by shackles and thrown into prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God!  I wonder if they sang some of David's Psalms?  I would like to think so.  I'm sure they put their prayers to song as well.  Have you ever done that?  I had to laugh because sometimes when I was a little girl, I would put my words to song at the dinner table.  I would turn, 'Would you please pass the salt?' into a little jingle, and my mom would look at me laugh.  Sometimes as an adult, when God answers prayer, I do a little 'David Dance' in my living room and sing my 'Thank You's' to melody.

Men can bind and beat and destroy the body, but they cannot touch our souls! They cannot defeat our Spirit!

Paul and Silas PRAISED God!  And when the bible tells us that 'the prisoners heard them,' it means that the prisoners 'listened intently.' They strained to hear every single word Paul and Silas sang.  Can you imagine their surprise when they heard praises instead of cursing? Can you imagine what they were thinking when they heard prayers, instead of cries of pity?

Then verse 26 begins with, 'And suddenly...'  God moves quickly when He hears PRAISE!  I wonder if my prayers are hindered because of my LACK of praise in my circumstances?

Praise literally shook the ground they sat on, the foundations of the prison shook!  Doors were opened, shackles loosed! Praise breaks the cords of bondage!  I love that!  

What a testimony Paul and Silas had during horrible persecution.

God help me to respond to persecution...

    the same way Paul and Silas responded to persecution...

        with PRAISE!

            But that's just me!