But at
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25
Your joy as a Christian should not depend on your circumstances.
Joy comes from God, and therefore it cannot be affected by what is outside of
you. Don’t be fooled into letting the actions of others determine your joy.
True joy comes from knowing that God Himself lives within you and has
fellowship with you, regardless of your environment. Real joy lies in the
knowledge that holy God has completely forgiven you of every sin, and even now,
He has a home prepared in heaven where you can spend eternity with Him (John
14:3). The circumstances of your life cannot change these truths!
Paul and Silas faced some of the most difficult circumstances
imaginable. They were falsely accused, arrested, and imprisoned. They were
beaten and shackled in the darkest, coldest section of the prison. But they
refused to allow their horrific situation to dampen their joy! They did not
blame God for allowing these things to happen to them. Instead, they praised
Him for His goodness! In the darkness of the night, they prayed and they sang.
God brought a miracle that released them from their chains, but perhaps the
greater miracle was that His Holy Spirit could so fill them that even in their
painful imprisonment they could overflow with joy!
Do not allow difficult events to cancel the joy of knowing you
are a child of God. Choose to allow God’s Spirit to fill you with His
unquenchable joy, and your life will be a miracle to those who watch you face
the trials that come.
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