| Photo by Erica Giraud on Unsplash
I am thankful for the God who suddenly works and moves in our lives and situations.
Acts 16: 25-26; “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. SUDDENLY, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open and the chains of every prisoner fell off.”
Paul and Silas have been beaten and thrown into the inner cell, so that they would not be able to escape. How do they respond? They are praying and singing hymns to God – they are praying and praising! How many realize that prayer and praise are a weapon for spirit-filled people!
In a battle, we need to use the weapons that God has provided for us! We need to be prepared for battle before we have to face it. How many of us wait until we are in the heat of the battle to then pray and praise! Why not start today, with prayer and praise!
We need to prepare now for the next battle. Paul and Silas did not just start praying and praising when they were beaten and thrown in jail. Prayer and praise were a spiritual discipline in their lives!
They are PRAYING AND PRAISING THE LORD, and the other prisoners are listening to them? Can you imagine what their response was? How can they be praying and praising with all that they are going through? Today, people are listening to what is coming out of our mouths when we are in the battle!
The Lord heard their PRAYERS AND PRAISE, and SUDDENLY GOD MOVED! If there were no prayers and praise, would God have moved SUDDENLY?
Today, why not PRAY AND PRAISE and believe that God is able to SUDDENLY move in our situation! God is still God, and our prayer and praise can move God to act on our behalf!
Lord, help me to PREPARE FOR THE BATTLE BY PRAYER AND PRAISE personally today!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pastor Ronald Squibb has been the International Christian Center (ICC) Lead Senior Pastor at Staten Island, New York, since 2011. He draws on many experiences from his over 40 years as a pastor and from significant emotional experiences.
His new book, Following the Journey with Jesus, which he co-authored with Daniel McNaughton, was recently published and is receiving rave reviews. The daily devotion appears in this publication.
