What are you looking at? And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (Acts 16:25-26)
The Bible tells us that for many days while Paul and Silas were in Philippi, they were followed about by a young girl who was possessed with a spirit of divination. One day, Paul got so grieved that he commanded the evil spirit to come out of her. This angered her masters because they could no longer make any money now that she had lost her power. In retaliation, they took hold of Paul and Silas and brought them before the magistrates, accusing them of teaching customs which were unlawful. The two men were stripped, beaten and thrown into the innermost cell of the jail.
At about midnight, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing praises to the Lord and as they did so, suddenly, the doors of the prison flew open and the shackles fell of the prisoners. When the jailor awoke and saw what had happened he was afraid that all the prisoners had escaped and was about to kill himself knowing that he would be killed anyway by the authorities. Paul told him not to take his life and reassured him that no one had escaped. That night, the jailor and all his family were saved.
For most of us, when trouble comes the tendency is to focus on the problem. In fact, we spend all our time having a pity party feeling sorry for ourselves and sometimes we even accuse God of leaving us to be eaten by wolves. That is exactly what the enemy wants us to do. It is the trick of the enemy to get us to focus on our situation, on our problems instead of fixing our gaze on Jesus. You see, Paul and Silas knew the enemy’s trick and they beat him at his own game. Rather than focus on their circumstances, they began to pray and sing praises to the Lord. And guess what? God showed up. Did He not say that He inhabits the praises of His people. When we praise Him in the midst of our problems, He shows up! Even the jailor had to acknowledge that the God of Paul and Silas is a Mighty God and he and his household surrendered to Him.
Are you facing a crisis right now? Is there trouble all around you, in your home, on the job, everywhere? Where have you fixed your gaze? Are you looking at the problem or are you looking at the God who is able to deliver you out of every situation? Why not borrow a leaf from Joseph, David, Daniel, and let us not forget Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. They were all faced with circumstances that ordinarily they should have given up. But like the Apostle Paul and Silas, they kept their eyes on God because they were confident that He was able to deliver them. Friend, the same God that delivered them, is able to deliver you. His Word says He changeth not. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Friend, what are you looking at?
Prayer:
Lord, as I go through this situation (name it) and other situations that I might face in future, help me to keep my eyes on you. Let me not look at the seriousness of my problem but cause me to look at the “BIGNESS” of you, O Lord My Deliverer. Help me to remember that all power belongs to you and that there is nothing that you cannot do. Thank you for your promise that you will never leave me nor forsake me. I love you now and always will in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen.
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