DAY 20 – DEEPEN MY PRAISE
By: Wilson Morales
[/nectar_highlighted_text][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-book” color=”Accent-Color”]SCRIPTURE:
ACTS 16:25-26 ESV
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”icon-user” color=”Accent-Color”]DEVOTIONAL:
I love this story. It shows the power of praise, and how it can unlock breakthrough, not only in our lives, but in the lives of the people around us. We see Paul and Silas thrown in jail, beaten, and persecuted for sharing their faith and their love for God. Despite their circumstance, despite being in chains, they were able to fix their eyes on Jesus. They saw their circumstance as an opportunity to praise God! Their faith and love for God far outweighed the chains holding them down. I don’t know if I, personally, could say that I have the same faith to respond the same way they did.
But praise God, that the power of our praise, and effectivity of our prayer, does not depend on us, but the One who we direct our praise and our prayer towards! He is the God of breakthrough! He is the one who can bring freedom in our afflictions, bring restoration in our marriages and relationships, break us free from our “prisons”, and bring salvation to people far from God!
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→ Find ways to see your circumstances as opportunities to praise God!
→ Meditate on Psalm 34:1 CSB: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” Find ways to make praise a habit in your life. Ex. praise Him on your drive to/from work, listen and sing to worship music when you’re doing errands.[/text-with-icon][text-with-icon icon_type=”font_icon” icon=”fa fa-hand-paper-o” color=”Accent-Color”]PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, deepen my praise. Help me to see how You’re moving in my life as an opportunity to praise You. Even the trials and tribulations in my life have meaning, and You can use anything to bring You glory! Help me to live a life of praise, knowing that my praise is powerful, not only for me, but even the people around me. Make praise so much a part of my life, that I can’t help but praise, no matter the situation. In Jesus Name, Amen![/text-with-icon]
