Paul

November 23

Acts 16:16-28

Paul and Silas in prison

When Paul and Silas were in Philippi, they set a slave girl free from an evil spirit that lived in her. The girl’s owners were furious because she had made money for them by telling people what would happen in the future. So they dragged Paul and Silas to the marketplace and had them stripped and beaten. Then they took Paul and Silas and threw them in jail. The jailer—who would be sentenced to death if they escaped—locked them in the inner dungeon and put their feet in wooden clamps.

At about midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises, there was a great earthquake! The prison doors swung open and the prisoners’ chains fell off. The jailer—who had been sleeping—was so afraid that he was about to kill himself with his sword. But Paul yelled, “Don’t do it! We are all here.”

Will praising God change my difficult situation?

From what happened to Paul and Silas, it seems that when we praise God in challenging circumstances, He sets us free from our troubles.

Paul and Silas probably had no idea that their praise songs were like a key to their prison cell. The fact that they didn’t try to escape shows that they were quite happy to stay in the cell—if that’s where God wanted them to be. Their praise songs were bringing glory to God; blessing the other prisoners and helping them to feel the peace and joy of the Lord.

Praising the Lord in faith may well bring a change to your situation because we serve such an awesome, powerful God. But even if you are not set free from your troubles straight away, singing praise songs to God will set your heart free.

Verse for today

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation… Philippians 4:12b

It is always good to be grateful for things and thankful for those who love and care for us. To download a free Thanksgiving Activity Booklet - click/tap here