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HELEN SANDERS
7-3-2026
PRAISE IN THE STORM
I was meditating on the scriptures in Acts 16:11-40 where Paul and Silas were in prison together. Earlier, they had been on the street of Philippi after being sent there by the Holy Spirit. They met Lydia down by the river side and she became a Christian. She opened her home to Paul and Silas and eventually a church met there.
While Paul and Silas were preaching the gospel on the streets of Philippi, a woman with a spirit of divination followed them and said flattering things about them. She was a soothsayer, which means fortuneteller. She was being used for profit by her masters. After several days of her demonic flattery Paul rebuked the spirit of divination in her through the name of Jesus and it came out. Her masters became angry because the money flow stopped.
Her masters went to the local magistrates and raised a complaint against Paul and Silas. The magistrates tore off their clothes; whipped them, beat them, and threw them into the inner prison, bleeding. The magistrates charged the jailer to keep them there safely.
Now, think about it. They had been sent to Philippi by the Lord. They were doing good things by preaching the gospel. They had a woman set free from satanic bondage, but they ended up in prison. Not many would like that ministry, would we?
In the midst of all this, there is not one word that they came against the magistrates. They did not demand to be freed. They simply endured. Then at midnight they even sang praises. Now that is amazing. Most would be complaining that they weren’t being treated fairly. Most would come against those that hurt them, but not Paul and Silas. They sang praises so loud that everyone in the prison heard them. [Acts 16:25]
Miraculously because of that praise, there was an earthquake that caused the prison doors to open. The jailer was going to kill himself, but Paul and Silas s shared the gospel with him and he and his whole house received salvation. What a miracle!
The point I am making is the prison doors would not have opened if there had been whining, complaining, anger, and offense. It opened because despite their circumstances, which were rough, they still gave praise to God. I wonder how many have lost battles because they failed to praise God “in the storm?” We can learn a lot from the Word of God. Regardless of what comes our way, praise will get us through it. Don’t let the enemy steal your praise. It is a weapon. Psalm 149:6 tells us that our praise will execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punish people, and even kings. So, let your praise do the work for you. Stay in an attitude of praise with God and watch him do the work for you.
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