“The crowd joined in an attack against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to 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 everyone’s chains were unfastened.” (Acts 16:22-26 NASB)
Yesterday, I presented you with a way to handle guilt. I must be in a consoling, counseling, comforting, or combination of all of those heart conditions, because today, with the help of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, I am going to present you with a way to handle a variety of internal feeling you may have to deal with today or in the future.
Let’s bring the text into our time to accomplish this objective. Listen! If you ever feel beaten down by multiple thoughts in your cognitive state; if you feel down as if you have been hit with many blows; if you feel deeply imprisoned by thoughts that try to keep you from pressing on and praising upward, emulate Paul and Silas actions as reported in the text above. You read it, but for simplicity, let me state it briefly. Resort to praying and singing hymns of praise to God.
Pray when you arise! And let your voice rise in praise singing a song of praise at any moment of the day when you have those internal feeling described in the aforementioned paragraph. Even if you are in your workspace, sitting at your desk, you can sing softly a song of praise that will not only expel the thoughts in your mind that bring you down, but it might free somebody else up who is imprisoned my hopeless and hurtful thoughts in their minds. If you are asking, “What can I sing?” – sing the song that always brings elation to your soul and changes evokes emotions in your being that are positive. If nothing comes to your mind, let me give you some recommendations. Sing, “Love Lifted Me,” “Never Alone,” “The Lord Is Blessing Me Right Now,” “Jesus Will,” “God Never Fails,” “Keeps on Making a Way,” “It’s So Wonderful,” or “Hang on In There!”
It’s true! Good things happen when you pray and sing. If you have any doubt, go back and check out the opening passage. I hope I have ministered to in a short time, for a time such as this, or for facing future times where this meditation will have real meaning for you. Love you! Oh, if you think singing is not a solution, let me give you a succinct quote to substantiate my suggestion. Be blessed!
“To sing is to pray twice.” (Saint Augustine Quote)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King