PRAISE THAT OPENS PRISON DOOR

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Wednesday, 27th April 2022

By Pst Israel Olorunfemi

TEXT: "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22:3)

Are you being knocked down by the circumstances of life with no help in sight? Have you been kept in the prison by the devil? Are you really trusting God for open doors and the way out of those challenges you are facing right now? If yes, then today's Devotional will help you. Paul and Silas found themselves in such situation. What did they do? 

The Bible says at midnight, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God. Midnight here means that moment in life when all your hope is lost, when you feel abandoned, rejected and disappointed with little or no strength to continue in life. That was the situation Paul and Silas found themselves. Did they complain, murmur or backslide because of their challenges? No. The Bible says they prayed and sang praises unto God, not silently but loudly. I'm sure other prisoners would have laughed them to scorn. But suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison shook to its foundation. All the doors flung open, and their chains fell off. The Master Himself stepped in - Hallelujah! (Acts 16:25-26).

Today's anchor Scripture makes us to understand that the Lord inhabits our praises. The meaning is that when we praise God, He draws near to us and when He draws near, His palpable, feelable Presence envelopes us and sets us free from every prison-like situation. King David describes entering the gate and the courts of God through the doors of praise and thanksgiving. He said: "Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise (Psalm 100:1-4). The writer of Hebrews also tells us to offer a sacrifice of praise to God. Sometimes praising God can be a sacrifice. How? 

This is when we do not feel like it because our lives have been shipwrecked with lots of unanswered questions. This is the moment when you feel like giving up. But the sacrifice of praise which is the fruit of our lips, is precious to God (Heb 13:15). Beloved, I encourage you today to practice praising and thanking God daily. Even when you find yourself in the dark times of life, praise Him like Paul and Silas. Your praise will open the prison doors and set you free. 

Praise becomes a sacrifice when you look around you and can't really see the miracle, favour, blessing, healing, turnaround, you prayed and trusted God for. Anybody can praise God when things are fine and rosy, but when you despise your circumstances and praise God, it becomes a sacrifice that God cannot overlook. Don’t look at your situation today, look unto God and find joy in His unfailing Presence. This will give you strength to praise Him. That situation shall end as testimony, in Jesus name. 

Set out time today to praise Him (minimum 15mins). Your tests shall turn to testimonies, in Jesus name. 

PRAYER: You're coming out of that situation, stronger and better with testimonies, in Jesus name.

DAILY CONFESSION: This year 2022, I am more than conqueror by the Power of the Holy Spirit therefore I will continue to celebrate all through the year, hallelujah!

1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:

April 27 (Luke 19:28-48; 1Kings 1-2)

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