Sometimes we may feel imprisoned, in need of a breakthrough because of an unwise decision. At such times we must look in faith to our Redeemer, with praise being the master key of precision.

Of course, some problems are unforeseen, and we had nothing to do with how they came about. But filling the Lord’s ears, night and day, with His praises, will bring release and break persistent doubt.

Paul and Silas were shut inside of a prison–praise to God was their only weapon of choice. Then God sent an earthquake to set them free, because they had chosen, wisely, to rejoice!

They went from being jailed to being guests in the jailer’s home and recipients of his care. The jailer had become their brother in Christ–what an answer to their praises and prayer!

So if, today, you hear of troubling situations in this world and wonder what you can possibly do…after prayer, keep praising our Lord Jesus Christ, who is mighty to save and ever Faithful and True!

P. A. Oltrogge

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 34:1 NKJV

“Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.” Psalm 113:1-4 NKJV

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.” Revelation 19:12 NKJV

Account of Paul and Silas imprisoned in Acts 16

Search the web for Philip Renner, worship music

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23-24

What did Jesus mean when He said “in that day…”?
Well, He was telling His disciples that He would be going away.

He was going to Calvary, and He was going to die;
but He would be raised from the dead and ascend on high.

There, in heaven, He would sit down at His Father’s right hand;
and a new day–a New Covenant or Testament would become their brand.

He had met the needs of many and His disciples each day the same;
but when He was gone, they were to start praying to the Father in His Name.

That Name would take the place of Him personally doing God’s will–
Miracles, signs and wonders, through that Name would be available still.

That our joy may be full, Jesus said, “Ask, and you will receive” —
We are “IN” “In that day.” His power’s here, through those who believe!

P. A. Oltrogge

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.’

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
Mark 16:15-20 NKJV

This post was inspired by a devotional written by Kenneth E. Hagin, founder of Rhema Bible Training College, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

by J. Vetter
Guest Contributor

Covering my right eye, I forced my left eye to see.  At first, all I could see was mainly darkness.  Attending a healing/miracle service, I aggressively believed for a miracle for macular degeneration in my left eye.

At my last eye exam, I was troubled.  My left eye had gotten worse, and I could barely read any letters from the chart on the wall.  This pushed me into believing God with a new intensity for healing.  I knew Jesus was my healer, but I had been waiting on Him.  The day of my exam, I sensed Him saying, “I am waiting on you.”

Scripture tells us that David pursued and recovered all (in 1 Samuel 30).  Often, I believe we can be too passive.  If a thief came to your home, you wouldn’t open the door and say, “Take whatever you want.”  Well, sickness and disease are thieves, and we have God-given authority to kick them out.  God’s Word declares, “I give you authority…over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  (Luke 10:19)

So I began to believe for restoration.  Scriptures about Jesus being the light of the world came alive, and others, such as Psalm 119:130, “The entrance of Your Words gives light;” and John 1:5, NIV, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”  Darkness always refers to our enemy.  In 1 Peter 2:9, we are called “…a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light….”  When the fear came to my mind that I couldn’t pass my driver’s test eye exam, I didn’t agree with it.

The night at the healing service, the pastor encouraged us to test what we believed for.  I looked at the large screen and covered my right eye.  The worship leader’s face was all dark. However, I believed that no good thing will my God withhold from me (from Psalm 84:11).  I began to worship the Lord for His power and grace to heal me.  Each time I checked, the worship leader’s face was becoming clearer.  Light was overcoming darkness!  After perhaps twenty times, suddenly I could see his face.  Instead of doubting that this would last, I quickly got up to go to the front to testify.

I recalled another time when I was healed of a stiff neck and right shoulder pain in a similar meeting.  I didn’t want to speak on the microphone because there were so many people there, and my thought was that it was just too insignificant.  But then, a woman shared that she was healed of the same thing.  The speaker said, “That’s great, but the healing was called out for someone else.”  At that point, the pain was beginning to come back, so I was on my feet in a flash.  The minute I began to testify, the pain left!

After that meeting, I ran into a man who lived on my street.  He was astonished as he’d never been to a healing service before.  His need was regarding back pain, so my testimony encouraged him on his own healing journey.

It has been a year since I received the healing for my eye; and so recently, it was time for my annual exam.  Well, praise God, this time, I was able to read the last line on the eye chart!

______________________________

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.”
Proverbs 20:12

“The eyes of those who see will not be dim,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.”
Isaiah 32:3

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”
Matthew 13:16

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.'”  John 8:12

(Scriptures NKJV, unless otherwise noted)

Don’t think about what’s bad, sad, or what you might have had,
but rejoice in the Lord always–every moment, being glad.
There’s fullness of joy in His presence, so give to Him your praise–
of which He is so worthy–He will never leave you, but is with you always.

Jesus died on the cross for our redemption and rose victorious from the dead.
That was done out of love for you, that His precious blood was shed.
Expect the best–He’s given you eternal life, the moment you received Him.
He daily loads you with benefits. It gives Him joy that you’ve believed Him.

Counting your blessings, thanking Him, brings an atmosphere of gladness;
and you can leave your burdens with the Lord, forsaking any sadness.
He knows your every circumstance, both the rough things and the mild.
Keep walking by faith and looking to Him–you’re God’s beloved child.

Don’t let discouragement or disappointment cause your spirit to faint;
a strong spirit sustains us in life, so be strong in the Lord, dear saint.
Keep on expecting the best–God is able to do beyond what you can think.
Cast off any fear and “walk on the water.” Jesus, your Lord, won’t let you sink.

P. A. Oltrogge

“…For He (Jesus) Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
Hebrews 13:5

“…And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'” Matthew 14:29-31

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

“…Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing! You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.” Psalm 30:11

“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities…” Psalm 31:7

“Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11

“My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” Psalm 34:2

“Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor My righteous cause; And let them say continually, ‘Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.'” Psalm 35:27

“Let all those who seek You, rejoice and be glad in You; Let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!'” Psalm 40:16

“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.” Psalm 46:4

“Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For you shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth.” Psalm 67:4

“The Lord reigns; Let the earth rejoice; Let the multitude of isles be glad! Psalm 97:1

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”
Psalm 122:1

“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; And let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns.’”
1 Chronicles 16:31

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

“…Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’”
John 20:19-21

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God….” Ephesians 6:10-20

(Scriptures NKJV)

I couldn’t help but think of His “glad” flowers to go with all the verses on gladness. I’ve read that the name, gladiolus, comes from Latin and Greek words, meaning sword, which can remind of the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…Ephesians 6:17.