“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” Acts 16:25-26
Prayer is not getting God to do your will; prayer is getting you ready to do His will.
In today’s Scripture, notice that if Paul and Silas had the kind of prayer life where they were going to talk to God about what they wanted, they would have said, “Lord, set us free!” Instead of asking God why they wound up in this difficult circumstance or asking Him to get them out of it, they were giving God thanks and praise. Even though they were still in prison, they recognized that He was still on the throne.
And even though they didn’t necessarily understand why He allowed them to be put in prison, they believed that He was the God who could deliver them. Which is why at midnight they were singing hymns of praise to God; and suddenly, they were set free.
Paul and Silas prayers doesn’t mean they began to pray at midnight, but rather that they were still praying at midnight, having began some time earlier. Their song was probably one of the Psalms. It means they prayed and sang so loud that other prisoners heard them and something supernatural happen.
When you start talking to the King about who He is, about what He’s done, and about what He’s going to do, it means you’re willing to trust Him right where you are. And when you do that, all of a sudden, heaven and earth begin to move, the glory of God fills your life with power, chains of addiction are broken, and captives are set free.
LET’S PRAY
May you live today knowing that the coming of Jesus Christ is imminent, and we are prepared. Through the shed blood of the cross, our sins are forgiven. We are on our way to heaven to live forever in the peace, the love, and the joy that only the righteous can know in Jesus’ glorious name! Amen Amen Amen! Fountain to your life