How do you react when you find yourself in the middle of a bad situation? It may be something small like the kids tracking mud into the house and onto the freshly vacuumed carpet or your bad situation may be something bigger and more life changing like a cancer diagnosis or an unwanted divorce. Actually, we have many examples of bad situations in the Bible, and we see God’s redeeming work through the process.
I’m thinking of one example found in the book of Acts. Paul and Silas were severely beaten, put into stocks and placed in the inner most dungeon of the Philippian prison, and they were there simply because they had healed a demon possessed slave girl. Now the situation seemed hopeless, but what did Paul and Silas do? How did they react to their very bad situation? I would have probably complained and sat their angry, frustrated and hopeless, but Paul and Silas started praying. And beyond that, they even started praising God!
What an example for us today. When we face a situation which seems bad or maybe even hopeless, let’s take a cue from Paul and Silas. Let’s pray and let’s praise God for who He is and what He is able to do. In Paul and Silas’ case, God sent an earthquake which shook open the prison doors and shook off the shackles on their feet. And what was even more amazing is that the jailer asked how he could be saved. Imagine that - the one who held other people as prisoners now recognized his own need to be set free from the prison of his sin. Paul answered him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”
Now God may not send something as dramatic as an earthquake to rescue you, but this story reminds us of the importance of going to God and praising Him instead of panicking in our bad situation. God is a redeeming God as we see from our wonderful story today. Trust Him to redeem your situation.
I want to encourage you to write the words “Prayer” and “Praise” on index cards and put them in your kitchen as a constant reminder this week to react with prayer and praise when you face a new challenge.
Check out my new show on www.webtv4women.tv to see me give a presentation of this blog in person.
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