Acts 16:25-34
New International Version (NIV)
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
We have to stop looking at situations as if it is the situation that determines everything. We live in a people-pleasing society and yet we serve a jealous God. I don’t mean that we bow down to others but trying to get the approval of others is still a form of worship. We subconsciously place those people as head of our lives. We then base our lives off of what we think we should have or where we think we should be from what others have said or shown us.
This releases a W.E.T. atmosphere into our lives. We begin to worry, have excuses, and focus on our troubles (if they are real troubles, to begin with). Looking at Paul and Silas in prison, they had every right to be worried about their fate. They had every reason to focus on and be intimidated by their trouble (prison). And they had every excuse to run when those doors flew open and the chains fell.
So the question may be how did Paul and Silas avoid that W.E.T. season? Well they gave God praise. Not only did they give God praise they prayed, but they also communicated with God. Crying out to God in the time of trouble is one thing. But to communicate with God is another. To have that peace enough to focus on the conversation and praise instead of the situation is a gift that we must accept.
To accept this gift we need to get out of that W.E.T. season. So for the next 7 days (if you feel as if you want to do more then, by all means, go for it!) get a small notebook; make this your W.E.T. Journal. Write down every worry you have, every excuse you give, and every situation that is troubling for you. Then find a scripture to match each. Whenever you feel this W.E.T. cloud coming then pull out your notebook and meditate on the scriptures you have. If there is no scripture to go with your W.E.T. cloud then write it down anyway and pray until God gives you a scripture. But no matter what Don’t forget to praise!
Prayer:
Lord, I come to you in my troubles. I come to you with my worries and my excuses, and I ask for grace. Lord help me to shift my focus back to you during these times of trouble. Help me to not focus on the situation, but help me to give the situation to you. Help me to cast my cares. Give me a new worship and a new praise, so that no matter what you get the honor you deserve. In Jesus name, Amen.