About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. (Acts 16:25-34, NRSV)
When you think of joy what do you think of?
I have to admit the first thing that comes to mind is happy. If I am filled with joy I am happy…
Well here Paul and Silas are in prison, praying and singing. They are so filled with the joy of the Lord that they can not help but sing and pray to God even from prison!
Have you ever experienced this joy? That even in the darkest moment, you feel the presence of God that you can sing and pray and praise Him!
That is what the jailer had when he discovered that the prisoners were still there. Such joy that he would not die. The darkness all around him had vanished.
That is how we can live everyday! Filled with the joy of the Lord! Singing and praying to Him always giving Him praise!
aSacredRebel 