Acts 16: 25-26
And AT MIDNIGHT [in their darkest hour – while others were asleep]
Paul and Silas PRAYED, [probably for themselves: for deliverance, for support under their present afflictions; for grace to enable them to bear up with patience and cheerfulness; for their enemies: maybe for the jailer, who had mistreated them; and for the churches for all the saints, and for the spread and success of the Gospel]
And AT MIDNIGHT [in their darkest hour – while others were asleep]
Paul and Silas PRAYED, [probably for themselves: for deliverance, for support under their present afflictions; for grace to enable them to bear up with patience and cheerfulness; for their enemies: maybe for the jailer, who had mistreated them; and for the churches for all the saints, and for the spread and success of the Gospel]
and SANG PRAISES unto God: [cheerful - even though they had been beaten, their feet were in the stocks, and they were in the innermost prison in a most disgusting and uncomfortable condition; and though they might be in expectation of greater punishment, and of death itself; but also that they were thankful and glorified God, who had counted them worthy to suffer for his name's sake]
and the PRISONERS HERD THEM. [praying and singing out loud - intensely and loudly]
and the PRISONERS HERD THEM. [praying and singing out loud - intensely and loudly]
And SUDDENLY there was a GREAT EARTHQUAKE, [not from natural causes of wind being pent up in the earth, but from their prayers and praises going up to heaven – and God was pleased to show His presence and power this way]
so that the foundations of the prison WERE SHAKEN: [and yet the structure did not fall down as is usual when the foundation was shaken]
And IMMEDIATELY ALL THE DOORS WERE OPENED, [outer and inner prison doors - which is another unusual effect of earthquakes]
and EVERYONE’S BANDS WERE LOOSED. [miraculous! for when was it ever known that such an effect had ever followed an earthquake?]
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Pray the Word:
Lord, if what we hear is true . . . . that NASA researchers say they have found a close link between electrical disturbances on the edge of our atmosphere and impending quakes on the ground below . . . . .dare WE to pray and sing Your praises in our times of distress with such electric intensity and earnestness that it will disturb the atmosphere?
so that the foundations of the prison WERE SHAKEN: [and yet the structure did not fall down as is usual when the foundation was shaken]
And IMMEDIATELY ALL THE DOORS WERE OPENED, [outer and inner prison doors - which is another unusual effect of earthquakes]
and EVERYONE’S BANDS WERE LOOSED. [miraculous! for when was it ever known that such an effect had ever followed an earthquake?]
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Pray the Word:
Lord, if what we hear is true . . . . that NASA researchers say they have found a close link between electrical disturbances on the edge of our atmosphere and impending quakes on the ground below . . . . .dare WE to pray and sing Your praises in our times of distress with such electric intensity and earnestness that it will disturb the atmosphere?
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Thank you for reading my blog of thoughts, encouragement and instructions the Lord speaks about to me. It is simply my therapy to write down these things as I walk my journey out with Him. I would love to hear back from you. Each new day is a blessing! Dorothy