“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25
Paul and Silas had been in town preaching the gospel just like they always did. The people got angry with them and beat them and threw them into prison. Late that night they are seen praying and singing to God and everyone was listening.
Most people, if they were thrown into prison for preaching the gospel, would be singing to God while there. They probably would be praying for release or calling friends and an attorney to get them out. This would be the case if they did not have their eyes focused on God.
Focusing on God gives you the correct perspective–that God is in control. They were able to relax and sing because they knew that God was there and was in control of the situation.
Most believers, as a believer, have never been thrown into a real prison. Yet, many are in a different type of prison. The prisons many people are thrown into are financial problems, sickness, death, injury, or many other challenges in life.
When you are going through a bad situation it is easy to lose focus on God and look only at the here and now. Yet, are you trusting that God is still with you and in control?
First thing to do is start praying for God’s desire to be done in the situation. Next, give God praise for the situation and how He is going to take care of it.
Use that time to be a witness to others. As Paul and Silas were praying and singing out loud, many others were listening to them. What they were doing was not common for people in prison and would make a difference.
Are you stopping to pray and praise God in your prison in life? Or are you complaining or afraid? Keep in mind that God is in the prison with you and is in control. Trust Him in your prison today.
I pray today that you will know Jesus is with you in your prison; that you will pray for God’s desire for your life; that you will sing praises to God in your prison; and that others around you will hear you praising God.
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