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What are You in For…and How Long is Your Sentence?
For years, I’ve had a mental picture in my mind of Paul and Silas praying and singing songs in the jail cell at midnight. If I am honest, I have projected my own experiences of prayer and worship onto the vision and I’ve pictured something like a nice chorus of “Shine, Jesus, Shine” (yes, someone even has a guitar) and a planned meeting where prayer requests are shared, someone “opens,” and someone “closes.” Yes, these are my own experiences of corporate prayer and worship, and yes, they are good… but it is so nice to strip away my own ideas and see such raw, genuine passion for Jesus.
In reading what happened during the day leading up to this event, it is anything but romantic. Paul and Silas were “on mission” for God when they were attacked, stripped, severely flogged, and then shackled into the inner cell. That’s one bad day! Yet, within hours, at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns? And these prayers released such a powerful display of God that everyone’s chains came loose? (Also, if you go on to read, the jailer and his entire family become believers through this.) Wow!
I would like to believe that I would get to the point of prayer and praise if I was in a similar situation. Yet, unfortunately, “getting to the point of prayer of praise” would likely be a process for me. Paul and Silas did not go to any counseling sessions to work out what had just happened; they did not have to “get to the point”…their lives were already at the point. It was with fresh wounds that Paul and Silas prayed and sang together that night, and I wonder if that made the prayers even more fragrant to the Lord. Out of their deep, true faith arose such ability to pray and turn to God immediately.
As I think on this, I’m personally challenged to know that the time it might take for me to “get to the point of prayer” is time wasted in the shackles. I want to go after a true faith from which, in my raw moments, I can move to prayer and worship immediately. Just maybe… an earthquake is in the making… and freedom is near for me and others… if I can just get myself to look beyond the circumstances and just pray…now.
quick to pray!! i like this…. instead of quick to complain, worry, or try to figure things out on my own. Thanks!!!!!
congrats, too.
blessings,
alan
Wow, Amy!
I bet their prayers were so fragrant to God, especially because they were what flowed as a response to their horrible day. I’m challenged by what you’ve learned, you’ve shared, and what I’ve learned from your thoughts on these verses. May our first response to circumstances be thankfulness and praise to God!
Thank you so much for teaching me!
“Time wasted in the shackles” … what a valuable insight! Your devotion reminds me that God is our only source of true freedom. Thank you for sharing!
thank you for sharing! what powerful scripture! i am reminded that the way i choose to respond to circumstances can either keep me in chains or allow God to set me free. praise God for his power and grace!
Prayer has to be our life connection to God in times of trouble. I am glad he is there to hear all our thoughts. He never tires of our endless chatter to him. May God help us in our shackles to waste lots of time. Thanks Amy
I know a couple of circumstances right now in our lives that need “shaken” by the power of God’s intervening earthquakes. What a great reminder…the power of prayer, praise and worship is so above my anemic thought processes. Thanks for the very clear reminder.
Love you!
Amy,
It took me a couple days to realize that you wrote this. I happened to click on the site today and see that another person from your church wrote one today.
This statement you wrote really hit home for me and my walk with the Lord-”strip away my own ideas and see such raw, genuine passion for Jesus.” This longing for genuine passion, trust, and true faith from which, in my raw moments, I can move to prayer and worship immediately.”
This is where I am in my walk with God. Thanks for reminding me that in the process and walk with the Lord that it is the earthquake that has the power of God within it. And that POWER is where the freedom lies. I love you and so glad you are my daughter-in-love!
Thanks Amy!
I appreciate you reminding us all to turn to our Lord first! When we discussed this passage in small group one question we came up with was: How would Paul and Silas have ever impacted the prisoners if they were not shackled with them? What about the jailer? When we turn first to prayer (and even worship), God often blesses us with a picture of His bigger plan – something Satan will always try to hide from us. I think Paul and Silas saw that God could use them in prison. I think they saw an incredible opportunity to spread the Gospel – even shackled as they were. Whenever I find myself unable to glorify God in my current situation, I find it much easier to ask for his wisdom to understand why he has allowed me to be there. In asking God for his perspective, I have yet to find Him unfaithful in providing strength to live for His purpose even with fresh wounds.