Freedom

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose”

Paul and Silas were put in jail for spreading the good news. It wasn’t fair. They were beaten with rods without a trial. As they sat in the prison, bloody, bruised and uncomfortable, they began to sing praises to God. As they were singing, all of the sudden, there was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, the chains fell off, and they walked out as free men. What happened? They praised their way to victory!

Friend, I know what lows are about. I know it’s hard sometimes to see your world crashing around you and still choose to respond with praise and trust and faith. I’m not perfect either, but I will say that throwing yourself a pity-party or a tantrum at God serves only to keep you upset and delay your promotion in His plan for you. Most of the time, the things that are really worth something take sacrifice to obtain.

Today, I want you to understand, if you’re going to live in victory, you have to learn how to praise in your midnight hour. When things seem the darkest, when you’re in pain, disappointed, lonely or experiencing a loss. When you praise Him ‘no matter what’, that’s when God will break your chains and set you free!

A sacrifice is when it costs you something, when you don’t necessarily feel like doing it. Keep your faith in Him, not because of how you feel, but because He deserves it! Praise Him in your midnight hour then get ready to embrace the freedom He has planned for you! Freedom from your grief, your financial woes, or your loneliness. Just like He did for Paul and Silas, He will set you free if you will only dig in and press forward in faith. You never know, TODAY could be that day!