For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Ephesians 6: 12-13 (NLT)
Paul and Silas knew that the jailer was not their enemy. They knew that the people who had them beaten and even the people who beat them were not their enemies. Their enemy was discouragement, fear, and worry. That was who they had to war against and that war is spiritual in nature. So they began to sing praises unto God. In the middle of their worst fears they praised God! In the middle of the dungeon, dark and dank they praised God! In the middle of their pain, humiliation, and suffering they praised God! Paul and Silas knew that their faith had to be stronger than their worry if they were to win the spiritual battle.
But You are holy, O You Who dwell in [the holy place where]
the praises of
Paul and Silas knew that God inhabits their very praises! This is why traditional church services will begin with praise and worship as the presence of God is ushered in. Paul and Silas knew that there was nothing they could do about their current situation. They could not convince the guard to let them go! They could not break the stocks! They turned from their worry to their peace! They turned from their pain to their healer! They turned from their problem to their problem solver! The same thing applies to us in our state of worry. The enemy wants us focusing on our problems. He wants us focusing on our stocks and shackles that which binds us. He knows as long as we focus on that which imprisons us, we can never look to He who frees us! If you find yourself in times of worry it is imperative that you turn your worry into praise. It reminds you who is ultimately in control God! It ushers His presence into your worry. It ushers His presence into your situation. And do not underestimate the value of His presence:
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16: 11 (NKJV)
The truth we need to embrace today is that you can find joy in your trial. You can have joy in your wilderness. You can replace your worry with the joy of the Lord. Just remember that the battle is spiritual and that praising Him in your worry brings His presence, which brings the fullness of joy into your life.
The second thing our key verses teach us to do when we are faced with such times is we must be prayerful. We give up too easily in prayer these days. We cannot ask more than once without feeling unanswered. Consider the woman with the issue of blood who suffered 12 years before her prayers finally broke through. Consider Joseph praying for 12 years in prison before finding his freedom. We must be persistent in our prayers:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12: 12 (NIV)
