Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 12, 2015
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
As I recovered from cancer treatment a few years ago, I found the physical discomfort to be excruciating. I asked my wife Rita for the pain medication. I also asked her to hold me and play the worship song “How He Loves Us.” We sat together embracing each another as we praised and worshipped God. The phrase in the song, “My afflictions are eclipsed by His glory” became very real in my painful condition. In the middle of our little worship service, I felt a whole lot of my heavenly Father’s love. Praising God in our pain releases His reassuring refrain, “I love you, I love you.”
Paul and Silas started the first prison ministry of the New Testament era. They were jailed for speaking about the resurrection of Jesus. Unscrupulous men tried to enhance their fortune telling business by following Paul and Silas’ ministry. The owners were livid after Paul rebuked the evil spirit out of their fortune teller. They accused the Christian leaders of promoting customs unlawful to Romans. These evil men persuaded the government authorities to publicly flog and imprison them. In the middle of Paul and Silas’ confinement they praised Christ Jesus!
“But as for me, afflicted and in pain—may your salvation, God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving” (Psalm 69:29-30).
God’s grace gives us the ability to praise and thank Him in the middle of our most severe afflictions. Our praise perspective sees and receives the Lord’s love above our adversity. We may have encountered unjust treatment, but we know the Just One is in control. Our Savior Jesus who allows us to be confined is the same Savior who sends an earthquake to set us free. When we praise the Lord in our pain we gain His peace. Hymns sung to God draw us closer to Him.
Perhaps you suffer from the pain of a prodigal child or a health issue. Other painful points may include: rejection, loneliness, financial stress, guilt over the past, fear of the future, chronic caregiving, marital strife or a friend who let you down. Ask the Lord to help you be emboldened not embittered in your faith, as you journey with Jesus through trials. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Praise God in your pain and you will give glory to His fame. Praise sets you free to serve in the Spirit’s strength. Pray not to be pain free, but to be set free in your pain.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him” (Psalm 28:7).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use my pain to gain Your grace, goodness and glory.
Related Readings: Psalm 112:7; Isaiah 26:3; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 4:13
Post/Tweet this today: When we praise the Lord in our pain we gain His peace. Hymns sung to God draw us closer to Him. #praise #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 5 minute music video- All Sons and Daughters: Great Are You Lord
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