Look Up and Sing

Have you ever felt defeated? Like whatever you tried to do, you still could find no victory over a certain problem in our life?

Maybe it’s a long time battle that you have been fighting. Maybe it’s a new one. What ever the case, it seems to have you chained and bound up with no release in sight. Is this your plight? If it is, I have good news for you. For this too, God can handle. This too He has control over and can bring victory from.

Last night I read this verse and it spoke to my soul.

Acts 16:25-26 - But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.

Paul and Silas were not sure if they would live to see another day. The wounds from the beating they took ached and kept them from getting any comfort. The air was stale and made it hard to breath. They could not sleep so they began to look up. They began to pray and sing.

They looked up to the one sitting firmly on the throne above. Their focus was no longer on the circumstances that surrounded them or the future that might befall them. They looked to the one who made all things, the creator of the universe, the beginning and the end. I am sure their look was not one of a small simple glance but with a firm stare of intent. With a heart filled with faith for the one who knows all things they firmly looked to God to know best. They didn't stare at the circumstances that surrounded them and lament their coming demise. They looked to the one that knows all things in full confidence that this too was in His hands and He would not disappoint them. They looked nowhere but up.

Then they began to pray and sing. When Paul and Silas lifted there voices together in songs of victory, the earth shook! The prison was shook and all the doors were opened. Not just Paul and Sila's chains were loosed; ALL the prisoners’ chains were broken.

In Joshua chapter 6, God used the music of trumpets to bring down the walls of Jericho and bring victory for Israel. They circled seven times blowing trumpets, gave a loud shout and the walls came tumbling down. Music was once again used to obtain the victory.

Beth Moore in her Psalms series called singing the language of the soul. I believe she is right. When we sing with all our heart, our soul is mended. Sometimes the joy or sorrow we feel can not be expressed fully by any other means. Our soul cries out to God through music. The angels sing continually, “holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” God even sings over us. It is also his expression from the soul.

Zephaniah 3:17 - The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Are you bound by chains, do you know others that are bound by chains? LOOK UP, SING FOR VICTORY! Sing loud, sing strong until the chains are loosed for yourself and all you know. When we look directly at God believing that He is all powerful, and wants our sinful chains to be released, amazing things happen. So lift up your voice and herald the victory.

Praise Him for the victory! Praise Him for who He is! King all things, ruler over all! Master of even this! Even these bonds that seem so strong are under His control! When you feel defeated, lift your voice. When you can't see the light, look up and raise your voice in song. In this too He cares about you and will bring victory.

LOOK UP AND SING!