Title: Power of Praise/Topic: Praise

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 10; Leviticus 11; Leviticus 12; Acts 16

Scripture: Acts 16:25-28
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"

Observation: Paul and Silas are bound with chains in a dank, dark prison but are singing praise to God. Instead of being focused on their problems and how they don't deserve the treatment they have received, they are instead thanking God and focused on his goodness to them. The result is that they are miraculously freed and the other prisoners and the jailer hear about God.

Application: Praise has great power. The greatest power it has is that of keeping us from succumbing to depression and negativity. I know that way too often, especially in a situation where my problems were the result of others' wrongdoing and I was suffering undeservedly, I have had the exact opposite attitude of Paul and Silas. I am very good at being a martyr. Nothing but negative can come from that. How I need to remember to praise and worship God in every situation, especially bad ones.

Prayer: Help me Lord to never wallow in self-pity again. It's too much of a waste of the short amount of time I have left here. I want to release the power of praise in my life. Help me to be an example to others of living with a mindset of worship and praise.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.