In the Bible, the account of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, and their response to it all, teaches us a vital lesson, which is explicitly stated in Psalm 34:
I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
They did not wait for deliverance to bless and praise the LORD, they sang praises and worshipped right there in their pain!
And so should we. And so can we, as we are empowered by the Spirit! Just choose to do it, for He is worthy, and He is right there in the midst of it all.
But there is more to this. The parable of the soils which Jesus taught, Matthew 13, Mark 4, and Luke 8, shows us that we can be distracted from praising the LORD, not only by pain and difficulties but also by riches and pleasures.
I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Just choose to do it, for He is worthy, and He is right there in the midst of it all. He never left you in your troubles and He is right there rejoicing with you in your pleasures!
Blessings,
Larry Carroll
In the Old Testament, we see again and again how the LORD brings beauty from ashes, how He brings victory when circumstances look really bad. He was a savior then and He's still a savior today.
So for example, it looked pretty bad for Joseph in the book of Genesis on more than one occasion, yet he ended up as the number two man in the mighty Egyptian Empire.
Same thing for Daniel, in the book of Daniel. The Lord God saved him from the lions and then his enemies were destroyed. He ended up as the number two man in the Persian Empire.
Same thing for Mordecai, in the book of Esther. The Lord God saved him on the day Haman planned on hanging him. And he also ended up as the number two man in the mighty Persian Empire.
Same thing for David, in the book of First Samuel. The Lord God saved him repeatedly from King Saul. And he ended up as the King of Israel.
Now we also see, again in the Old Testament, that the Lord God does not look kindly on unrepentant, wicked evildoers. Here are some verses that describe their end. Yes, if they repent there is forgiveness, as we see in the account of Saul/Paul in the book of Acts. But if they don't repent... as they say, it's not pretty.
Psalm 37
9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.
Psalm 63
11 But the king shall rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.
Now Hebrews 13 verse 8 says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." So, be anxious for nothing!! Praying really is where we start in fighting evil.
Larry Carroll
I have a John 3:16 sign in my front yard. Why? To share the Gospel in a simple way. Here it is below and with some other verses that do the same thing.
But first, let me ask, why did Father God sacrifice His Son, Jesus, for you and me? He wants to establish a relationship, a good relationship, with each of us! Even if you have ignored Him in the past!
NLT Version ---------------------
1. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
2. John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
3. Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
4. Second Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
7. Revelation 3:20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."
I repeat: why did Father God sacrifice His Son, Jesus, for you and me? He wants to establish a relationship, a good relationship, with each of us! Even if you have ignored Him in the past!
NKJ Version ---------------------
1. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2. John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
3. Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
4. Second Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
7. Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."
I repeat yet again: why did Father God sacrifice His Son, Jesus, for you and me? He wants to establish a relationship, a good relationship, with each of us! Even if you have ignored Him in the past!
Thank you, Father, thank you, Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit, for redeeming my life from destruction and making me part of Your family!
Blessings,
Larry Carroll
Scripture List
Verses that encourage me
Hebrews 13:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (He doesn't change! What He has done, He still does, and will continue to do.)
Proverbs 4:
20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
(Your words are life and health!)
Psalm 34:
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears. (All means all.)
5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles. (All means all.)
7 The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Second Corinthians 5:
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (Hallelujah! Your word is the Truth, LORD! What You say is more true than our circumstances.)
Matthew 7:
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Much More!)
Psalm 103:
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! (All means all.)
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits: (All means all.)
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, (All means all. Thank You, Jesus! Hallelujah!)
Who heals all your diseases, (All means all.)
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Isaiah 53:
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
Matthew 8:
16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, (All means all.)
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”
First Peter 2:
21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness - by whose stripes you were healed.
Psalm 16:
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Nehemiah 8:
10 Then he said to them, " Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. "
Hebrews 13:
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He, Himself has said, " I will never leave you nor forsake you. "
6 So we may boldly say: " The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? "
7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Philippians 1:
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 4:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! (Always includes now. I will rejoice now!)
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
First Peter 5:
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (All means all.)
Hebrews 4:
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (All means all.)
16 Let us, therefore, come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Luke 10:
19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (All means all.)
Lamentations 3:
22 Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
24 " The Lord is my portion, " says my soul, " Therefore I hope in Him! "
Jeremiah 29:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (The Pearl of Great Price!)
14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity;
Jeremiah 32:
17 ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.
26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
27 “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?
(Nothing, Absolutely Nothing!!)
Isaiah 41:
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 54:
17 No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is from Me, Says the Lord.
John 14:
12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 15:
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 16:
23 And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (This means in Your presence!)
First Thessalonians 5:
16 Rejoice always, (Rejoice evermore)
17 Pray without ceasing,
18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Hebrews 13:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Romans 8:
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (No one!)
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written: " For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. "
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hallelujah!!
