Press the arrow to listen to Hillsong sing “Wonderful God” while reading today’s devotion on worship in pain.
Scripture
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. Acts 16:25-26
Observation
There are some things in the spiritual life that seem frivolous. Taking singing for example. Humming a happy tune seems like a featherduster compared to the powerful things a human being can do. Kickboxing or something aggressive like that would seem to be a more impressive response to crisis.
But Paul and Silas at midnight began to sing. Their song changed everything. They brought the house down.
Hours before they had been beaten with rods. Imagine being whacked incessantly with broomsticks across bare skin. Midnight was like dayligh because of the unmedicated throbbing. Pain gave their song power. The holy martyrs have a front row seat in heaven for this same reason. God’s broken are the strongest ones. Their power is seen in their use of strength to run into commitment rather than to run from it.
Worship in pain brings results. First, the boulders of the earth became backup singers to the midnight worship. Jesus said that the rocks can cry out. The yawning caverns of the earth groaned from the magma up to the glory of God. Then the prison warden, who lived upstairs, rushed to Paul’s cell for the altar call. Paul’s choice to praise in pain touched the man’s heart and brought him to his knees.
Application
Ache is a call to worship and pain is a worship leader. I visited a godly woman in her last days, dying of cancer. She told me that the simple truths of her faith had become most profound to her. On her bed of sickness she had hummed over and over again, “Oh, the blood of Jesus, it washes white as snow.” I need to let pain be the worship leader in my life.
Prayer
Father, help me to be a better worshipper. Amen.
