The Power of His Presence
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalms 100:4
TThe quickest way to get into the presence of God and to abide in Him is through thanksgiving. Giving God praise and thanksgiving will bring Him on the scene every time. Yes, He is always with us, but His presence is felt when we have a heart of thanksgiving and worship.
Worship is what set Paul and Silas free in the jail. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were thrown in prison because they had cast a demon out of a girl making her master’s money through fortune-telling. They had been beaten, put in the inner prison (the worst part), and their feet were fastened in the stocks. I love what verse 25 and 26 says, “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.”
Can you imagine this scene? Instead of complaining about their circumstances (which I know I would be doing), they were praying and singing Psalms. They were worshipping God, which activated the Holy Spirit’s power in that place. It was so powerful that all of the prisoner’s shackles were loosed. The best part is it witnessed to the prison keeper so much that he and his family were saved!
There are a lot of lessons in this story. First of all, even in our “midnight hour,” when it seems like all hope is lost, God will never leave us nor forsake us. Therefore, if we worship Him and give Him thanks, we give Him access to help in our situation and turn things around.
Instead of complaining and remaining in your situation, give God praise, and you will be raised! As 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” He will take you from your darkness – your midnight hour and transform you into His light! Praise God!
Dear Lord, I give you praise and glory amid my situation and know that you will turn it around. Amen.
