Shake Loose!

Is there an area in your life in which you are imprisoned? Maybe you have a situation in which you feel trapped and are not able to see a viable way out of the situation. How is your attitude in the midst of your prison? Do you complain to everyone about how bad your life is at this moment? Consider how Paul and Silas conducted themselves while in a real prison:

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose." Acts 16:25-26

Now that you have read those two verses....read them again.

Slowly. 

Are you feeling something within your spirit by the weight and power of this story? Consider the time of this event. It was about midnight. Imagine how dark it must have been. There was no electricity then so there were no streetlights. We don't know if the jail had any windows so there may not have been any moonlight in the cell. In all probability, it was DARK. We don't know the size of their cell, but I once visited the jails in Salem, MA from the 1600's and they were terribly small. Paul and Silas could have been in absolute darkness and pressured all around. They were likely not very comfortable. And yet they were not caught complaining. They were praying and singing to God! 

They must not have been singing quietly because the other prisoners were listening to them. In the midst of your prison, others are listening. Those who are enslaved are hearing your words. Unbelievers are also watching to see how your God is going to get you out of this prison. What kind of witness are you living? Do you gripe and complain in the way of an unbeliever who has no hope? Or are you singing hymns and living a life loud enough for others to hear? 

As Paul and Silas lifted their voices in praise, a violent earthquake came and shook loose the foundations of the prison. The same can happen in our lives! An encounter with God can shake us at our core in a way that we no longer see the prison surrounding us. The doors to what has held us will open and the chains on us will fall away! 

All this leads me to ask...why are you still in your prison? Are you spending time earnestly in prayer? Are you surrounding yourself in praise? When was the last time you shouted your praise to God? I'm talking a reckless abandonment to worshiping your creator? Dance like David danced! In the Bible, the tribe often sent into battle first was the tribe of Judah, the tribe of musicians. In order to win the battle they began with shouts of praise! It was praise that released Paul and Silas.

I pray each of you take the time TODAY to praise God for all He has done in your life. No matter how dark the prison looks at this moment, we each have a reason to give Him praise. The fact that you are reading these words means you have internet, you have vision, you have the comprehension of reading, you are breathing, you are free to read scripture without the fear of persecution! 

I am going to leave you all with a song often played at my church before the start of the service. SHAKE LOOSE!