The Power of Praise
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation
And grant me a willing spirit to sustain me
Then I will teach transgressors your way
And sinners will turn back to you”
Psalm 51:12,13
It was midnight. Two Christians who to the outside world must have looked like they had lost everything, sat in a dark, cold, freezing prison. Paul and Silas had been jailed in the city of Philippi for preaching Christ. It would have been so easy to give up. Their minds were probably being bombarded with unanswered questions “God, where are you? Why are we in prison? Why did you let it come to this? Did we do something wrong?”
But instead, they began to praise their God. Imagine what the others in prison must have thought. “It’s midnight for crying out loud. Why are they singing? We want to sleep.” And then it happened. The walls began to shake. Earthquake! And a severe one. Walls half collapsed. Doors fell off their hinges.
Most of us are at least a little familiar with the Acts 16:22-40 story. The jailer finishes up not only being converted but brings in his whole family to hear the gospel. Praise opens prison doors. In your praying for unsaved family and friends, don’t forget to add praise. Praise adds power to our witness and can make us like a magnet to draw those who aren’t Christians to Jesus. Praise is a powerful weapon in evangelism.
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