I’m on a mission right now. And no, my name isn’t Lexie Baltimore. (wink)

No, my mission has to do with figuring out how to hear God more clearly in my life. Does that resonate with you, because it’s a need that’s driving me a bit crazy at the moment.

Perhaps it’s the chaos that I’ve allowed to overtake my life with a wedding in the works, family in town visiting, an email inbox that greets me each morning with a snarl and just the constant mindset of barely keeping up.

I want more of God. I want to hear Him clearly in my quiet time and every part of my day. I want the Holy Spirit to be in charge of my life!

This isn’t the first time I prayed this, nor will it be the last I’m sure. Not in a world with an enemy bent on keeping us from pursuing and growing in our faith in God. But I will share with you something God spoke directly to my heart last year and I am so wishing I had paid more attention at the time.

In a quiet moment I’d prayed that I could hear God better and He answered me:

“You will find Me in worship.”

I know it’s true. It’s happened before. I’ll lose myself in the words of a song or the picturesque view of God’s creation. I fade away and God steps in. Clear, strong, loving, present.

Oh so present...

This ache launched me into God’s Word yesterday afternoon to finish the Bible reading that had been put aside preemptively that morning. And here is where God stopped me:

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. — Acts 16:25-26

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read these verses before. Noticed them, appreciated them, marveled at Paul and Silas’ ability to sing and worship in such circumstances.

But never did I look at it from the standpoint of answered prayer.

Let me take a step back. Did Paul and Silas ask God to rescue them? Did they pray to be released? Did they ask God to protect them? I imagine in some way they did but that is not what stopped me.

They were not only praying but praising too. In fact, the NASB translation says they were “singing hymns of praise,” which in Greek is one word, humneo.

These men worshipped God as they sat in an inner prison—which I’m guessing means no window, no fresh air—with their feet bound in wood stocks. And they were praising God!

And look what happened! The doors opened and the chains unfastened. Not just their prayers but their praise broke their physical bondage.

My friends, what if this is the way to break bondage in our lives? What would happen if our prayers turned more to praise and worship of who God is and what He is doing in our hearts? What would happen if our prayers shifted from asking God to save our pre-believers to thanking and praising Him for already saving them?

What would happen if our lives became a daily worship of God and what would that look like?

Praying & believing,
Dineen