I bet everyone was wondering when I was going to start doing this again. Well spread the word because I have a new Bible that will help me understand passages more clearly so that I might give you guys better insight of what I have read. I know the following passages is rather long, but it is necessary to make my point.
Act 16:24-30 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 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. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
There are times in our lives that we feel we are locked up, held down, and shackled to the walls. We have been beaten and battered, and we don't know where all this is coming from. It is our spiritual prison.
Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for professing their faith and teaching Jesus Christ on Roman territory. Being beaten and thrown into a cell, they didn't do what an ordinary person would have done. There was no whining, or self pity. There was no anger or depression. They saw it as quiet time between themselves and God, and began to praise Him.
In our times of trouble and need, sulking around the house won't do us any good. Rejoice in the Lord because you are alive. Praise Him because He has given you salvation.
When Paul and Silas praised the Lord, He set them free of their bondage. He came down and touched them where their need was.
As we praise the Lord in the troublesome times in our lives, we can feel our heart being lifted. Continual praise puts us in a better mood when the world is crashing down all around. And before you know it, God has not only put you in a good mood, He has removed your shackles and set you free.
I believe Paul and Barnabas had a purpose to their imprisonment. That guard was there at the right place at the right time, and through their praise in their time of trouble, a soul was led to Christ. Lives were changed because they decided there was no use to sulking. Praise God anyhow.
Too many of us as Christians want to praise God when everything is going fine, but when the trouble hits, we run screaming to God, "Oh why God? Why is this happening to me?" We become whining babies. Our attitude should be, "God, I see the storm clouds coming, but I know you are there and I have faith that you will take care of me. Thank you God."
Think about it.