Devotion 110

Rom 8:5-6
(5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
(6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Eph 5:18-20
(18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
(20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Col 3:16
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

We have now learned that we have to walk in the Holy Spirit’s power and inspiration daily and this will empower us to live free from the oppression of sin and its effect. Let us take a step forward and allow the Spirit to release praise, worship and thanksgiving within us. I find that it is easier for me to hear God’s voice and to break through in prayer if I start singing to Him. I would sing in tongues and I would sing in English or Afrikaans and alternate as I go on. As I sing in tongues the Holy Spirit sings through me with words that I do not understand with my natural mind, but my spirit is made alive and becomes fruitful.

This is not a religious set of rules to be followed or to be set us a part of a scoreboard to impress God. No it is a gift that God has given us and Paul was aware of that so he exhorted the believers to do it as well. There is great power in praise, worship and thanksgiving and none of us can truly fathom what happens in the spirit realm when we do this. Paul and Silas were locked in a prison cell with their feet secured in stocks and while they were praising and worshipping God the angels came to deliver them. The power that was displayed there even shook the earth and opened prison doors.

Friends, this is not a Hollywood story I am talking about. Those were real prison doors and real stocks with real Roman soldiers guarding them. This was a physical manifestation of God’s power because His people praised, prayed and called on His Name. What are you waiting for? Stop trying to be a good Christian, accept the completed work of the Cross and start walking with the Holy Spirit and enjoy His presence. Express your love and joy by singing, worshipping and giving thanks. Sing and pray all the time as you drive, while you are waiting in lines and when you are working in the garden. Just sing and praise the Lord and you will find it becomes so easy to hear God and walk in His ways. The prison doors will open for you just as it did for Paul and Silas.