Acts 16:25

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16:25

Paul and Silas had just been unjustly beaten with rods and thrown into a Philippian prison. Their feet were secured in stocks, forcing them to remain in an upright position. If they were to lay back, they would feel more pain from their wounds.  If I were to be found in such a dilemma, I would be praying constantly and fervently for deliverance while at the same time feeling fearful, bitter, and resentful.

However, this is not how Paul and Silas responded. The prayers they prayed were worshipful which complemented the hymns of praise that they sang to God.  What a powerful witness this was, because their fellow prisoners did not flee when their chains were miraculously loosed in the next verse. The world watches us Christians as we go through life’s ups and downs.  May we be overwhelmed by Jesus’ love in our lives to the point that we praise and worship Him in all things.

Pastor Jeff Mericle