In Acts 16:25-26 we are told of a worship service that broke out in dark dungeon of despair! How radical is this? Here are Paul and Silas who are beaten, severally bloodied, dirty, dark, cold in a damp cell. Their legs are spread apart so that they can not have any comfort as they are forced to stand. And what comes out of their mouths is not cursing or pity but praise to God.
What does it take for you to stop praising God? What will it take to rob you of joy? Do you find that the only time you can praise God is during pleasant circumstances? Hey, family of God anyone can be happy when things are going your way but joy, true joy can only come from keeping your eyes on the author and finisher of our faith. “God does not create JOY by new surroundings, He creates new surroundings by JOY!” So what was their secret? Well it’s simple! They just looked at the Lord and not their circumstances. Simply put they used what they knew to be true about God to interpret the circumstance. “Well, God you have placed us here and we know that you love us so much that you sent your only Son to die for us, so you’re in perfect control.”
Don’t miss this saints, because if you do you will be robbing yourself of a great blessing, “Praising God does not have anything to do with circumstances, it has only and everything to do with relationship.” Paul would say, “Rejoice always!”
The best teaching, the most consequential lessons are learned through difficulties as we are sitting at His feet! Nothing prepares us better to lead others than passing through the fire ourselves as it is then that we see that there is another with us that has shut the mouths of roaring lions, parted the impossible paths through raging seas! Praise the Lord as He has ordered the class for you as He has deemed it essential for your maturity and allowed it to enable you to be a blessing! So rejoice always!