Today I want to share from Kenneth E. Hagin's Faith Food AND from the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan because they go together so well! Here is today's Faith Food, called Midnight Praise:
"And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them" (Acts 16:25).
Singing, praising, and thanksgiving all go together.
Paul and Silas had been beaten with many stripes, cast into prison, and their feet put in stocks. But at midnight they prayed and sang praises to God—aloud. The other prisoners heard them!
Most people in similar circumstances would have griped and complained. If they had been like some modern Christians, Silas would have said, "Paul, are you still there?" And Paul would have answered, "Where else would I be?"
Silas would have complained, "I'll tell you, my poor back is hurting so bad. I don't understand why God let this happen to us. He knows we've tried to serve Him and do our best!"
That kind of praying would have gotten Paul and Silas further in—instead of out! God didn't have them thrown in jail; the devil did. But there's truth and instruction here to help us in our midnight hour—the hour of test, of trial—when the storms of life come. That's the time to pray, praise, sing, and give thanks to God!
Do YOU agree? Let's look at Psalm 150 from the Amplified Bible:
1 PRAISE THE Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness! 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes! 5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
Are you breathing? Then PRAISE Him! Amen! First, make this confession from Faith Food:
Confession: I praise and thank God at all times. I never have a "poor old me" attitude. I keep an attitude of praise at all times.
Now, let's join in with Hillsong Live as they sing "Praise Him":
Shalom in Him!
