Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.
Acts 16:25
To read today’s portion of scripture, you can purchase The One Year Bible or find the following in your Bible:
2 Kings 8:1-9:13
Acts 16:16-40
Psalm 143:1-12
Proverbs 17:26
Paul and Silas could have so easily focused on themselves while sitting in that prison cell. They could have spent their time investigating their wounds, and wondering aloud how this terrible thing could have happened to them, and worrying about the future and whether or not they would survive it. But Paul and Silas had a secret strength: they had seen the risen Lord, and they remembered the encouragement He had left with them:
”Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.”
Were they in pain? Most definitely. Were they uncertain about their immediate future? Absolutely. But their eyes were not on that place and that moment. They were looking ahead to the time when they would be reunited with their Messiah. And that filled their mouths with prayer and worship.
Those around them listened — and nothing has changed. When we go through a trial or a tragedy, and our reaction is prayer and praise instead of complaint, the world watches and listens. Because they’re fully aware that they’re witnessing something unnatural. And you never know. Maybe one of those watching and listening to your unnatural reaction to pain will someday venture near and ask you to share your secret.
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To go along with today’s reading of Psalm 143, here’s one of my most favorite songs written and sung by one of my most favorite people, Sherri Youngward.
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love
For I have put my trust in You
Show me the way I should go
For to You I lift up my soul
Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord
For I hide myself in You
Teach me to do Your will
For You are my God
May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground
Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord
For I hide myself in You
Teach me to do Your will
For You are my God
May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground
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A wise older woman who discipled me as a young believer, once taught me the importance of sitting with a hymnal in my lap and learning those hymns to memory. She believed there would come a time when trouble would surround me whether it was in sickness, finances, persecution, or maybe in my last days in a hospital bed. She wasn’t wrong. Although I’m not in my last days I have had trials press in all sides of me. To this day, I sit in my rocker each morning with a hymnal in my lap and sing those old hymns. Just me and a choir of angels, I imagine.
That was a wise mentor, Liza. I love the picture of you starting your morning in your rocking chair, singing with the angels. 🙂