At the entrance of my front door there is a tiny sign that reads, “Miracles happen here.” Easily unnoticed by visitors, this tiny declaration is mighty.
Whether we see them or not, miracles are happening all around us.
There is such an “awe” and “wonder” about miracles as they present themselves as sudden, unexplainable and rare. Miracle stories are memorable! However, why is it when we are in the face of hardship or opposition, we lose hope that a miracle could ever be ours?
Paul and Silas were beaten and jailed while fulfilling their God given assignment. They easily could have stayed discouraged in the midst of their aches and pains from the brutal beating they had just received at their charge.
Instead, they prayed and they began to sing.
All of the prisoners around them were listening.
Suddenly, there was an earthquake so strong that the very foundations of the prison were shaken. The doors began to open and the chains that held everyone fell off.
The keeper of the prison was awakened from his sleep, and saw that the doors were open and thought that the prisoners had fled. So, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself until Paul yelled, “Do not harm yourself, we are ALL here.” The jailer called for light, and ran to Paul and Silas. He brought them out of their prison cell and fell to their feet trembling. He asked, “What do I need to do to be saved?”
They replied, “If you believe in Jesus Christ, you and your household will be saved.”
The jailer took Paul and Silas in and washed their wounds.He brought them into his home and fed them. The jailer was rejoicing! Because he now knew the God they spoke of. (Acts 16:16-34
Paul and Silas' prayers and songs of praise were the very keys that were needed to unlock the doors and chains that bound them. They could have gathered the other prisoners and fled immediately, but they stayed put. They knew their assignment was not finished yet. This miracle shook the doors and chains to their physical freedom, but this great shaking also caused quite an awakening to the jailer.
This miracle was for him to be set free from the prison and chains that bound him too.
We are in a season where great and mighty miracles are happening! They may not look or come in the way we expect. But when did miracles ever come in the way we imagined?
When we are faced with hardships, it is time for us to stop spending so much time in our despair, shame, guilt, worry, anxiety, and “what if’s.” It is time for us to begin to PRAY AND SING the promises of God’s truth over our circumstances!
We cannot continue to underestimate the power of our prayers and praise. I believe that God wants us to stop begging and pleading Him for a miracle. Instead, I believe He wants us to release the roar of prayer and praise that lives inside of us. Those are the very keys that will unlock the prison doors and shackles that have held us down for far too long.
Job 22:28 says, “You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.”
Stay in awe and wonder of who our great Father is. Small or big, seen or unseen; may we choose to pay close attention to the miracles happening all around us daily. With great faith, let’s keep hope alive and put the high praises of God in our mouths and declare, “Miracles happen here.”
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand… Psalm 149:6
-Stefanie Rodriguez