PRAISING:
THE SECRET OF VICTORY
Scripture Reading--Acts 16:20-34
Paul and Silas were severely beaten and cast in prison for preaching the Gospel. How did they respond? "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them"
( Acts 16:25 ). Amazing, isn't it? Rather than complaining, they were praising the Lord in jail!
The secret of victory is not praying but praising. Those who praise are people who believe God. They look beyond what they can see on a human level and look to the divine level. Circumstances may be difficult in the short run, but praising can lift us out of our pit. God sent an earthquake and opened the prison doors for Paul and Silas. The bands holding them were loosed. The prison keeper and his entire household came to the Lord that night.
Paul and Silas knew God had their situation under control. Second Peter 1:3 says God "according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." That means God has already provided everything we need in this life. There are no accidents in the Christian journey. Praise is never out of season! In fact, praising is the way God has designed for us to confront difficulties. When we praise the Lord in adversity, we demonstrate that we actively believe God. Perhaps we know that powerful little chorus:
It's amazing what praising can do, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.
It's amazing what praising can do. Hallelujah!
I don't worry when things go wrong; Jesus fills my heart with a song.
It's amazing what praising can do, Hallelujah!
The key to triumphant living is learning to live a life of praise. Don't underestimate this valuable resource. Psalm 7:17 says, "I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high."
SONG TIME: Sing a couple of your favorite choruses or songs of praise.
--Harold Vaughan--
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