Today’s Bible readings are 2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 16:16-40, Psalm 143:1-12, & Proverbs 17:26
Acts 16:25-26
25 About midnight Paul and
Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were
listening to them. 26 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.
What do you do when moments get tough in your life? What is
your first reaction when you get in a pinch? If you are like most people it is
something like one of these:
1. Cuss
2. Throw a temper tantrum
3. Blame somebody else
4. Give up & quit
5. Lash out with words
6. Lash out with physical violence
I have learned that what the bible says is true.
James 1:20
20 Human anger
does not produce the righteousness God desires.
If you want to get the things that God desires in your life then
you have to respond in every situation the way that Jesus does. When we respond
the way Jesus does it will produce righteous
things, or another way of saying it is “the right things”, in our lives.
What do you want to be produced in your life? That is the question
that we need to consider. If you want discouragement, bondage, anger, resent,
shame, unforgiveness, bitterness to be produced in your life then keep doing
what you’re doing. We know how to get these things. But if you are tired of
these things in your life then start doing things different.
God did not want Paul & Silas to be locked up in jail. He
wanted them to be free. That was the righteousness that God desired in that
situation. But the way they respond to the situation is what gave Him the
access to bring those righteous things into their lives. They responded to
the pressure in the right way & received the right things!!!
What would happen if the next time that you were in a pinch
you chose to sing to the Lord & praise Him instead of question &
complain to Him? What would be different the next time you were in a tough,
unfair place if you chose to worship instead of whine?
I think that the answer is that we would see chains fall off
of our feet just like they did for Paul & Silas. What you do in your
midnight hour determines what you will receive in your midnight hour. I want
you to receive the good things that God has in store for you. I know that is
what you want as well.
Your breakthrough is going to come if you keep your heart
right & stay positioned to receive. That is as certain as the sun rising in
the east & setting in the west. With this in mind, let you heart be moved
to praise & worship when trouble comes. We have a faithful Father who
desire to do right things in us. Know this makes our heart sing.
No comments:
Post a Comment