January 20
2019
Unintentional Praise
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 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 loosed. Acts 16:25-26
Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten with rods and put in stocks in the inner prison.
At midnight we find them praying and singing hymns to God.
That praise that came forth from them shook the earth, causing their chains and the chains of those around them to be loosed.
This leads us to a conclusion we know in our hearts – praise moves the earth and loses chains – not only our but those of us around us.
Often when we talk about this principle we do so in a calculated and intentional way.
I find myself in a situation, my chains are tight, I need them loosed, I need to begin to praise the Lord.
There is likely some merit in that.
However, I would argue that the praise that came forth from Paul and Silas was not intentional;
rather unintentional in the sense that it was such a part of who they were that regardless of their circumstances (prison) the praise came forth.
That, I believe, is what we need to grow into; praise that is such a part of who we are and such a part of our every minute existence, that it pours forth in the midst of our circumstances (whether we choose it or not).
Praise that is evident in our daily walk.
Praise that comes forth and shakes the earth and loses our chains and the chains of those around us, without us having to think it through and make a conscious effort to bring it forth.
That is real, genuine, earth shaking, chain losing praise.
Oh that we would grow in such a way that unintentional praise flows from us!