At the “midnight hour”
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ~ Acts 16:25
Have you ever been at a low point in life and felt like there was no hope for things to get better? Maybe you have been in a situation where you needed a breakthrough, and you were down to the last few minutes waiting for it to come, but it didn’t look like anything was going to change. Life can be full of “midnight hours,” times when you are down to the line and need God to come through for you, thinking things could not possibly get worse. How do you handle those times?
In today’s reading, Paul and Silas were having one of those “midnight hour” moments, quite literally. They had been accused of stirring up trouble in Philippi and because of that they were put in prison. Not only were they locked up, but they had been badly beaten as part of their punishment. As they sat in prison together, they didn’t talk about how they were going to get out of that place. They didn’t complain about how badly they were beaten and what part of their body hurt most. They never even mentioned devising a plan for what they were going to do next. Instead, they prayed and sang songs to God, praising and worshiping Him. Then when it didn’t look like things could get any worse, there was an earthquake.
I have read this account many times, but never really considered that an earthquake was not usually a good thing. Earthquakes are often destructive and dangerous. Sometimes people even die in earthquakes, and they are very frightening to experience. However, this earthquake had a purpose, as they always do when God is involved. But Paul and Silas did not know it was going to happen, and they certainly didn’t know what the results were going to be. When it looked like all hope was gone at their midnight hour, they praised God and sang to Him. He responded with an earth-shaking release from their chains and the freedom of all those who were imprisoned. Their breakthrough came when they turned their focus to heaven and the greatness of their heavenly Father. They shifted their attention from the bad circumstances surrounding them and gave glory to God right in the middle of the place of no hope.
This is a great example that we can follow still today. When we are up against a wall with no hope of escape or help, we can praise God for His faithfulness and His great love for His family. We can thank Him for being a part of His kingdom and pray about how we can be a blessing to Him and to others in our “midnight hour.” Midnight hours will come at times in life, but we can have a plan ahead of time to be prepared. Ask the Holy Spirit today to remind you when those times come to pray and sing songs to God. Then when you are up against it, you can rejoice in the Lord and in the power of His might. I’m not saying you will experience an earthquake each time you do, but I guarantee you He will answer when you call on Him. He will send you the strength and encouragement you need to carry you into that new day.
Here are some things you can do the next time you are facing a “midnight hour:”
- Choose a worship song today and make it your anthem for when you face your own midnight hour.
- Write down three things you are grateful for, especially in a hard season, and thank God for them out loud.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s promises when fear and hopelessness try to creep in.
- Keep a verse about God’s faithfulness close by, such as Psalm 46:1 or Isaiah 41:10, and pray God’s promises daily.
- Instead of rehearsing your troubles, speak life and praise God for the victory He is working on even when you do not see it.
Today I want to encourage you to remember that no matter what you are going through, you can praise God in your hours of hopelessness and trouble. Praise is a weapon that will chase your enemy far from you. Praising God brings Him close in both good times and bad. Doesn’t it make sense that when you need Him most, you call on Him knowing He will come rushing in to save you? He gave His only Son to save you, why would He hold anything else back from you now?
Today’s scripture reading: Acts 16:25-34
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
Journal:
- What has been a recent “midnight hour” in your life, and how did you handle it?
- How can you intentionally make praise your first response when challenges come?
- What specific promises from God’s Word can you hold onto in your next midnight hour?
The Daily Dose 