Acts 16:25-27 (NLT)
25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
Paul and Silas were in jail for preaching. They were locked up, it was midnight. They had been beaten, roughed up, they sat on the floor I am sure in puddles of blood and cold. Yet, they found reason to be positive.
It is in our darkest hours, our roughest times that if we find reason to be positive that the greatest things can happen. You see Paul and Silas were set free! A very large earthquake broke the prison from its foundations, the prison doors flew open, and the chains fell off of every prisoner.
Find reason to be encouraged when life is rough. Be positive, put a smile on your face, and talk about the good things. This will set you free!
Not only that but read on further in Acts 16:
27 The jailer woke up to see the prison doors wide open. He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself. 28 But Paul shouted to him, “Stop! Don’t kill yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
While in their darkest hour they found reason to be cheerful in the darkest hour and now the lives of others were being saved! Sometimes praising God in the dark times can be a sacrifice, but don’t do it because of how you feel, but because of who God is, He is worthy to be praised. Be encouraged, find reason to be happy, spread your happiness, and watch it spread!
