This is a story I had heard before, probably many times, but I am not sure I ever read it for myself. It's the story of Paul and Silas being thrown in prison, and praising their guts out until the walls shook!!!!
I really try to find the one thing that speaks the loudest to me when I read, but today I just couldn't narrow it down to one! Each are little parts in the story, but they struck a big chord in my heart.
The first is in verse 25, "after midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening." Most of the time when I heard this story, everyone focuses on how no matter what the circumstances were, they praised God. I think that is absolutely a huge part of this story, but I got caught by the second half of that verse today. The others were listening....people are always listening. So what is coming out of me for them to hear? Is it positive....encouraging....uplifting...loving...from Christ?? Or is it negative...hateful....mean....discouraging....from the world?? People are always going to be listening, everyone wants to hear what you or I have going on in our lives. Are we saying things that will make them want to find out more about Him? Not only were Paul and Silas singing and praising no matter what their circumstances were....but the other prisoners stayed and listened no matter what their circumstances were. People want more out of life. Don't they? Don't we? Then let's give them something worth listening to! Not complaining about work, or home, or kids, or traffic or whatever....on facebook, on the phone, in person, or even in church. We are charged with being the representation of light in a dark world.....are you living up to that call? Am I? I definitely want to....and I know it's hard sometimes....but I have to remember, someone is always listening.
The 2nd thing that caught my heart today was something I have seen repeated many times throughout my reading in Acts. Every time they visit someone, it is said "he and his whole household were saved". That really struck me today. For years I prayed and prayed for a husband who would lead my family spiritually. I fasted, I prayed, I got on my knees, I read, I journaled, I wept....I did everything I could think of to raise him up. And I always felt the Lord telling me that one day John (my ex husband now) would be that, would be in church with me and the girls. When everything fell apart after John hit me....I was so angry with God. I could not understand why He would let that happen to me, or why He lied to me about him being in church with us. I was so crushed. But then, when I finally started talking to(and listening to) God again, when the anger subsided, and I was able to ask why... I cried out to Him and said, but you promised. God answered, as loud as I have ever heard Him, He said....I said your husband would be in church with you one day, not John Sims. And now, I understand. I thank God every day for bringing Dean into my life, and the life of my girls. Dean always picks on me because in an older blog I had done, there is one I wrote asking God why can't I find a man who loves God, and would just love me and my girls. And now that is exactly what I have. An amazing man who follows God's voice, and then leads this family to chase after Him. I could not have wished for a better husband. Dean is my gift from God. He is "my him", the "him" I prayed for, I cried for, I longed for. And I know many of you are saying, oh they are just newlyweds.....it's not so, it will always be this way. Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that God put this family together for a reason, and I will always be beyond thankful for that. I love that Dean leads us, not by his own feelings and thoughts, but from the guidance and direction straight from God. Thank you God and thank you my him.
And the third thing that touched my heart was in the last part of the chapter in verse 40, "...they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them." This sort of links back to the first part too, but different at the same time. We can't always just be concerned about those who do not know God, those who are lost. Please don't misunderstand me at all, I know that is our mission on earth to reach out to those who don't know the love of Jesus. but sometimes, every now and then, those of us who KNOW Him, need a little reminder too. As much as we are sent to reach out to the lost....there are some who are "found" who are hurting and need the loving encouragement that can only come from a brother or sister in Christ. In this day and time, it is very easy to get down and out...and we have to be there to lift each other up, to love on each other, to gently nudge and say just remember He loves you.
God, today I pray so wholeheartedly that I can be a light in a dark world, a proverbs 31 wife, and an encourager to my brothers and sisters....always. Amen.
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