Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Lord Worthy of Praise
Acts 16:19-30
V. 25 –About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them
Every time we face a challenge in life, among the multitude of thoughts that flash through our minds, a fleeting thought would be, "Oh Lord, how did you allow this to happen to me." And in this context, if somebody advises us that our Lord is always worthy of praise, we may feel, "Ok, I agree! But I don't feel like praising Him today".
In Acts 16: 25, Paul and Silas went through one such episode of persecution when they got imprisoned for healing a woman with an evil spirit. But their response to this challenge is most surprising to me. Verse 25 says, "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." What a commendable response of faith to praise the Lord, undeterred by their circumstance or mental state! This teaches us one truth-Our Lord is always worthy of praise because He is ever-loving, unchanging, and a caring Father. Therefore, our heartfelt response to praise and worship should never depend on our circumstances or mental stage. I totally acknowledge that the format and content of prayer depend on what we are going through in life. Still, the primary act of worship and adoration should never change. This honors the Lord, and as written in Philippians 4: 6, 7, "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Such an overwhelming response of love, praise, and gratitude is again reflected in Habakkuk 3:17-19, "Though the fig tress does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." This is followed by a promise, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go the heights." Paul and Silas's simple act of worship brought forth a miracle in the prison that midnight, which led to the salvation of the jailor and his entire household. And that's how when we commit our lives to the Lord, He transforms every stumbling block into beautiful paths on which we tread and bear fruit for Him.
In Acts 16: 25, Paul and Silas went through one such episode of persecution when they got imprisoned for healing a woman with an evil spirit. But their response to this challenge is most surprising to me. Verse 25 says, "About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God." What a commendable response of faith to praise the Lord, undeterred by their circumstance or mental state! This teaches us one truth-Our Lord is always worthy of praise because He is ever-loving, unchanging, and a caring Father. Therefore, our heartfelt response to praise and worship should never depend on our circumstances or mental stage. I totally acknowledge that the format and content of prayer depend on what we are going through in life. Still, the primary act of worship and adoration should never change. This honors the Lord, and as written in Philippians 4: 6, 7, "Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Such an overwhelming response of love, praise, and gratitude is again reflected in Habakkuk 3:17-19, "Though the fig tress does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior." This is followed by a promise, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go the heights." Paul and Silas's simple act of worship brought forth a miracle in the prison that midnight, which led to the salvation of the jailor and his entire household. And that's how when we commit our lives to the Lord, He transforms every stumbling block into beautiful paths on which we tread and bear fruit for Him.
Prayer
Abba Father, thank You for being our savior and a rock in our lives when we need it most. You have given us a daily reminder of your love and serenity via your promises. Help us to put our faith in your word and proclaim it as the truth! Thank you for guiding us to patiently await Your well-timed plans and totally entrust our lives to your direction. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Abba Father, thank You for being our savior and a rock in our lives when we need it most. You have given us a daily reminder of your love and serenity via your promises. Help us to put our faith in your word and proclaim it as the truth! Thank you for guiding us to patiently await Your well-timed plans and totally entrust our lives to your direction. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thought for the day:
God is always deserving of our thanks and adoration. In order to allow the Holy Spirit to enter our minds and emotions, we need to glorify Him. Praise is a powerful antidote to any depression and anxiety. Don't be afraid to do anything you can to express your gratitude to the Lord!
Dr. Linda Alex
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, NY