When Praise Shakes the Problem

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. (Acts 16:23-26)

Paul and Silas found themselves in a “midnight” situation. When the world was at its darkest point, they had beaten backs, bleeding wounds, and were illegally imprisoned with their feet locked into stocks. In that difficult moment, they did two things: they prayed and they praised. They didn’t praise after the earthquake or after they were released from their bonds; they praised when the night was at its darkest. Prayer prepared them to receive from God, and praise activated Heaven in that moment. When Paul and Silas praised, something shifted in both the natural and the unseen realm, and the foundations of the prison were shaken. Not just the bars or the doors, but the very foundation sustaining them. Their praise wasn’t just about addressing the symptoms; it was also about confronting the root cause.

No keys were used, no locks were picked, and no legal appeal was made. When Paul and Silas prayed and praised, Heaven intervened on their behalf.Paul and Silas were imprisoned illegally. Sometimes, the chains holding you back aren’t because of sin, but because you were obedient to God, and the enemy wants to stop your progress. However, as we see in the story of Paul and Silas, unjust chains will break when we focus on God and lift our voices in praise.

Practical Application

When you're going through a tough season, don’t wait for circumstances to improve before you praise. Praise destabilizes what’s trying to hold you back. Focus on God through prayer, release your praise, and trust that the situation will change.

Job 35:10; Psalm 42:8