I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
(Psalm 34:1 KJV)
In this scripture the psalmist tells us that he will continually praise God; and that he will bless the LORD- at ALL times.
Can you do that- in both the good times and the bad?
Look at this passage of scripture about what happened to Paul and Silas:
Acts 16:22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
Acts 16:24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Verse 22 tells us that the magistrates, or officials in charge, rent off their clothes, which means that they tore off Paul and Silas’ clothing; and in verse 23 we read that they laid many stripes upon them, meaning that they beat the naked men on their bare backs using whips; and then cast them into prison, or threw them into prison.
Verse 24 tells us that Paul and Silas, who were beaten and bloodied, were then placed in stocks, in the innermost part of the prison, (from which they could not possibly escape), but what happens next is awe inspiring! We read in verse 25 that at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
These two men, who had been incarcerated for about 6 hours at this point, and who were cold, tired, and in pain, prayed, and sang praises unto God– so loudly that the other prisoners could hear them!
Acts 16:26 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.
We read in this scripture that the LORD heard their praises and answered their prayers! And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken- meaning that God sent an earthquake which shook the very foundations of the prison, and every one’s bands were loosed- or the prisoners’ handcuffs and shackles fell off; then immediately all the doors were opened, which means that the prison doors opened supernaturally!
PRAISE GOD for setting His faithful servants free!
How about you?
We challenge you to fall so in love with Jesus that you, too, WILL always be able to praise Him- because you know that HE is always there with you, and that HE will help you to handle whatever comes your way.
May the Lord bless all those who seek Him.