By Praise

Psalm 98:^4-5 “Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.”

Yesterday, we shared the story of Horatio Spafford who when confronted with the pain of losing his four daughters, did not point his finger at God angrily. He did not question God’s faithfulness saying, ‘Why couldn’t You save them?’ All he could do was pen down a song that is still blessing us hundreds of years after, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul’. God is saying to you, it is well, and you must stand confidently, knowing that it is indeed well with your soul. The truth is it is actually well with your soul. It is well!

How we respond in times of pain is something we should pay close attention to. No one enjoys pain, I do not. But how we respond in the time of trouble [at that midnight hour if you will] is something we all should pay attention to because it will determine the next course of our lives. Acts 16:²⁶ “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.” (emphasis added). In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, everyone going through a bondage situation, a prison situation, suddenly there would be a violent earthquake and you will be set free. What happened that night at the prison was not just an ordinary earthquake. Earthquakes are terrifying by themselves, but the Bible describes this earthquake as violent. Wow! In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, at once every prison door fly open and because of the point of praise, everyone’s chains came loose. I pray that in this season, every chain seen and unseen, known and unknown will come loose in the Name of Jesus. Say, Amen!

So, we see that for Paul and Silas, their day was triggered by their praise. Your day will be triggered by your praise and this is so exciting. Take time out to praise God this week, just praise. Paul and Silas knew something a lot of us should know; that when you are at the point when you need God, it is God you should go to. Most times, we are at a point when we need God most, but we go to something else, or to someone else. When you need God most, you should go to God.

Is your business in trouble? Is your family in trouble? Is your health in trouble? Are your finances in trouble? Is your walk with God in trouble? What and when do you need God the most? Go to God. Hebrews 4:^15-16 “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testing we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (emphasis added). We need God. Most times when things are going well for us, we believe our very big God is by our side. However, the truth is that even when things are not going well for you, you still have a very big God and guess where He is? By your side.

Prayer [song]: I sing praises to Your Name, oh Lord, praises to Your Name, oh Lord. For Your Name is great and greatly to be praised. Amen!