Good Morning, my friends. I am sorry it has been awhile since I have written, but I have been studying this week trying to listen to what God has been saying to me. One thing He has made clear to me is that no matter what is going on I have to maintain my Focus on Him. No one knew that better than Paul and Silas, except Jesus Christ.
In Acts 16:16-34 is the story of Paul and Silas and their time in Prison. They were stripped and beaten with rods and then thrown in prison. The jailers, or guards, were told to guard them carefully, so Paul and Silas were placed in the inner cell of the prison and placed their feet in stocks. For me, I would feel pretty hopeless. But what did Paul and Silas do?
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
Paul and Silas maintained their focus on the one true God. They were singing praises to Him. They were praying to Him. They did not focus on the damp, dark, dirty cell. They did not focus on the fact that they were incarcerated or naked or in pain from being beaten with rods. They did not focus on the fact that their feet were bound in stocks and they could not move. They did not focus on the wrong that had been committed to them. They did not focus on the fact that they were probably sore and stiff and bleeding and unable to move because their feet were bound. No. What they did do was focus on praising and worshiping God regardless of their circumstances. What happened as a result? A couple of things happened:
In Acts 16:16-34 is the story of Paul and Silas and their time in Prison. They were stripped and beaten with rods and then thrown in prison. The jailers, or guards, were told to guard them carefully, so Paul and Silas were placed in the inner cell of the prison and placed their feet in stocks. For me, I would feel pretty hopeless. But what did Paul and Silas do?
Acts 16:25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;
Paul and Silas maintained their focus on the one true God. They were singing praises to Him. They were praying to Him. They did not focus on the damp, dark, dirty cell. They did not focus on the fact that they were incarcerated or naked or in pain from being beaten with rods. They did not focus on the fact that their feet were bound in stocks and they could not move. They did not focus on the wrong that had been committed to them. They did not focus on the fact that they were probably sore and stiff and bleeding and unable to move because their feet were bound. No. What they did do was focus on praising and worshiping God regardless of their circumstances. What happened as a result? A couple of things happened:
- The prisoners listened to them. In the King James Version, it substitutes "listening" for "heard." The original Hebrew word for "heard" means to "listen to intently." Not only did the prisoners hear Paul and Silas singing, they were listening to them intently; they were paying attention to what Paul and Silas were doing.
And then in verse 26:
Acts 16:26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.
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All of a sudden, without warning, a great earthquake shook the very foundation of the prison. The doors were opened...ALL the doors were opened. EVERYONE'S chains were loosed. God shook the foundation of what was keeping Paul and Silas isolated, opened their cell doors, and as a result of the shaking of the foundation the chains that bound them were loosed. Their praise set them free!
But wait...did you look closely at the scriptures? Not only were Paul and Silas' door opened and their chains loosed, but ALL doors were opened and EVERYONE's chains were loosed. The other prisoners that had been "listening intently to" Paul and Silas benefited from what they heard and the praise that Paul and Silas lifted up to God. The other prisoners were set free because of what they heard. If they were listening intently to the praises lifted to God, then they had to take them heart, right? The other prisoners had to hear the testimony of Paul and Silas and I can only imagine the astonishment when the doors were opened and the chains were loosed. I know I would be so very thankful! Paul and Silas maintained their focus on the only One who had the power to release them. They did not focus on their surroundings. They did not focus on their wounds, their hurt from the beatings, or the fact that were in prison.
When we let our focus wander from the face of God, His Power, His Might, His Grace, His Goodness, then we set ourselves for defeat in battle. Where we set our focus, the things we worship and praise, and what we choose to keep in the forefront of our vision can determine or level of peace, joy, hope and our faith. So, keep your focus on the things that are true, pure, noble, whatever things are of good report (Philippians 4:8-9). Don't focus on the negative, bad, the circumstances you are in...that will get you nowhere except right into the enemy's hands making you ineffectual for the Kingdom of God.
I know I desire to have a prison shaking focus on my God and my Deliverer. He is my King and Father. He is the Mighty Warrior and He is the Prince of Peace. He is the Alpha. He is the Omega.
Today, train yourself to realign your focus on the Father, not your circumstances. Our focus, our praise when things get rough, can shake prison doors open and break the chains that bind us.
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