October 29, 2019

October 29

Running with Jesus  

Acts 16:28-31 " But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

      Paul and Silas walked so close to God and they made the most of every opportunity to share the gospel. They seemed to look at everything through the eyes of God. Here is what some say was the first jail ministry! All things happen for a reason. God was about to save a prison guard and his family. The door was opened, their chains were loose and had an opportunity to run, but if they had this jailer would have been killed. In the dark they cried out to the jailer to let him know they were still there. Look what happened he fell at their feet and asked how to be saved.  He had been listening to their voices sing praises to God in chains and he noticed these men were different.

     How we respond to the catastrophes of life become a living witness of our faith. People notice more than we think how we react and respond. On the other hand our enemy wants to drive us to the point of turning on God and causing our faith to be null and void. It was Paul and Silas strong conversions and eye witness faith in Christ that enabled them to endure. They had a God’s eye view. Everything in their life served as a purpose to bring honor and glory to God and salvation for a lost soul. I don't know what place you are in but I do know God will use it for His glory and to help others. 

     Do you feel jailed today? Ask God to turn it into a jail ministry. Keep singing and praising God until the chains fall off and doors open. Next, watch for a lost soul to appear that you need to witness to.

 Father, we praise You and worship You, Lord of heaven and earth. Our soul pants for You as a deer pants for water and our souls long to worship You. We trust You with these chains and prison walls knowing You are working in our darkest hours. We rest in You and trust You to bring good from the bad. Lift us up in this darkness, we wait upon You. And give us the ability to see life through Your eyes. 

Back to Lydia's house in the morning! Join me!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015