The Time is Always Right for Praise

The Time is Always Right for Praise

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
     What is praise? Praise means to commend; to applaud; to express approval of admiration of, to exalt in words or in song, to magnify, to glorify, Isaiah exhorts us “to lift up our voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid” (v40:9). Praise is preoccupied with who God is and what He has done. Praise is characterized by celebration and exhilaration and is expressed through singing, shouting, playing instruments, dancing and other external forms. Praise is an act of the will (Psalms 103:1) and not emotions, “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will” (Leviticus 22:29).
     God loves praises more than anything. We are created to bring forth praise unto God. We are created to praise Him continually. We are created to praise Him when our souls are at rest. We are created to praise Him in the midst of the trial. We are created to praise Him when the trial is over. We are created to praise Him by lifting hands like a child running toward his daddy. We are created to give Him a Todah praise by extending our hands in thanksgiving; a Yadah praise by worshiping Him with extended hands; a Shabach praise by shouting; a Zanar praise by singing; a Tehillah praise by singing in the Spirit; a Hallel praise of vigorous, excited celebration; a Barak praise by blessing and declaring God as source of power, prosperity, and success, etc.
     After being beaten and thrown into prison it would seem that Paul and Silas had nothing to praise God for. But they were not focused on the biggest of their problem. They were focused on the biggest of their God. And the more they magnified – made God greater in size, the earth had to quake, the foundations of the prison could not help but shake, and the doors could not help but open.
     My friend if you would change the way you see your midnight, not see it as a time of darkness, but the dawn of a new day and praise God with all you heart, mind and strength your prison doors will open.