by Sandy Kirby Quandt

While on a missionary journey to Philippi, Paul and Silas were thrown into the inner cell of a jail. Their feet fastened in the stocks. All because they cast out a demon from a slave girl who predicted the future. Before entering into the cell, Paul and Silas were severely flogged. Guess you could say they had an extremely bad day.

While most of us have not been in the same situation as these two men of God, it would probably be true to say we have had our extremely bad days.

Ill health. Lost job. Financial concerns. Accidents. Misunderstandings blown way out of proportion. Estranged family members. False accusations. Death of loved ones. Dashed hopes. Too many demands. Not enough time.

Paul and Silas could have dwelt on the unfairness of their situation. They could have been mad at God. They could have complained to those around them. The could have stewed about their predicament and made each other more miserable than they already were. They could have spiraled down into an unrecoverable funk. But they didn’t.

Instead, these two prayed and sang hymns to God. They sang so loud, the other prisoners heard them. And you know what happened? You do, don’t you? Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake, it shook the foundations of the jail. The prison doors flew open and everybody’s chains fell off. Not just Paul and Silas’ chains. Everybody’s.

When the jailer woke up and saw the doors open, he drew his sword, ready kill himself for allowing the prisoners to escape. Before he could do that, however, Paul shouted out to him, letting him know no one had escaped.

Praise could not control the situation Paul and Silas were in, but it could control their attitudes. They didn’t wait for God to deliver them before they praised him. Praise came before deliverance.

Often times we can’t control the situation we are in, but we can control our attitudes about it. Instead of grumping, we can praise.

What do you do to turn your grumps into praise? How do you handle those extremely bad days?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Leave a comment below. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! Acts 16:25-26 (NLT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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