Songs in the Night

This morning, I read the story of Paul and Silas in the jail. The account is found in Acts 16. It describes how they were beaten and thrown into prison, not based on something wrong they did, but due to greed on someone else's part. In verse 25, it says that about midnight, Paul and Silas began to sing and pray. Now, my first thought in those midnight moments of my life is not always about singing or praising God. Of course, I had to wonder what in the world they were singing about.

No matter what the words were, no matter what they were singing, it was about God. And that's why they had songs in the night. When we find ourselves in tight spots, we can still sing about the goodness of God. Why? Because our circumstances didn't change His goodness. What we go through doesn't change His grace. His mercies are still new every morning - no matter what the morning brings.

I have to wonder how our situations might be changed, or at least our attitudes, if we sing about our unghanging God, even in dire circumstances. In Acts 16, God shook the place and their chains fell off while the doors swung open. But no one left. Maybe it was symbolic for us. When we praise God and acknowledge His unchanging love, patience, mercy, grace, and other attributes - what holds our souls in bondage falls off. We may not walk directly out of the circumstances that moment. But our souls are free no matter what we see.

In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul opens up about being hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. In some ways, we can relate as caregivers. Life can have a way of dealing some hard blows. Sometimes, we don't even have time to react before we are dealt another blow. But we can continue to sing of the goodness of God, His rich mercy, and His all-sufficient grace right in the middle of our situations. We can sing about the light in our souls while sitting in the darkest night. And when we do - we find such freedom inside.

Today, I will meditate on the unchangeable attributes of God. I'll thank Him for His grace, mercy, and favor in my life. I'll remind myself that these things don't change, even when life changes. My thoughts will be on how God continues to carry me when needed. I'll remind myslef that He's walking through time with me - by His own choosing. Then, I will rest in the comfort of that thought as I trust Him for just one more day. Will you join me?

If you've been blessed by these devotions and Dove's Fire Ministries and would like to send a gift here is my Paypal link: paypal.me/dovesfireministries or my cash app ID $jeanieolinger.