Devotionals

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Jail House Rock

Acts 16:24-26 (The Message)
The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas's clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jail keeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum-security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

It is important to realize that these guys weren’t thrown into a state of the art federal prison where warms beds and hot food was the norm. Also, we see that these guys had been beaten before ever hitting the prison doors. Tight security, leg irons and a beating to go along – no, this was not life in the burbs. What I find intriguing is these guys found a place beyond the current situation. They were able to look past the pain, the ridicule the embarrassment and sing a song.

What was their secret?

How could they be beat and imprisoned and still pray and sing? I mean isn’t it the hardest thing to do sometimes, to find a voice of praise in the midst of tribulation? Nevertheless, they found their voices and they sang! They praised the Almighty God – so loud that the other prisoners heard them!

We’ll call it the Jail House Rock!

I know many are going through a tough time – life just doesn’t seem to be letting up one bit! Every angle is filled with just another surprise and another let down! It feels as if the leg irons have been tightened, and the prison doors have been slammed! Doomed! Devastated! Beaten down! Some have even told you the only way to go now is up, and you actually question if that is true, cause life just keeps getting harder and harder!

Sound familiar?

I’d like to share something with you – you are not alone!

Somewhere there is a song! It was there once! You use to praise God in the midst of the storm but you stopped! It’s time to find that song! It’s time to participate in a little Jail House Rock!

The enemy of your soul wants you to give up! He laughs and he mocks you every step you take – but it’s time to find that song again and let it go! It’s time to reach deep within you and remember how far you’ve come and KNOW that God has not left you!

It’s time for a little Jail House Rock!

The other prisoners couldn't believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

When we begin to PRAISE the ground will shake!

When we begin to PRAISE we are letting the enemy know that we will not be defeated!

When we begin to PRAISE the shackles will fall off!

When we begin to PRAISE the jailhouse of your existence will rock and the
PRISON DOORS WILL OPEN AND THE PRISONERS WILL BE LOOSED!


Regardless what the situation looks like today – find your voice –
Lift up your hands and PRAISE THE LORD!

God Almighty, we want to praise you today! There are storms all around us and many are right in the middle of incredible situations! Lord, we are looking deep within ourselves and finding our voice of praise! We want to feel the jail house rock and see the prison doors open! For too long we’ve been beat down and shackled – BUT TODAY IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE LIFT UP OUR HEAVY HANDS AND WE PRAISE YOU! Regardless of how it looks or feels or what is happening – WE PRAISE YOU!!! WE PRAISE YOU TODAY!

In Your Mighty Name, AMEN

© Jounda LaMance October 22, 2006

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