Defy Those Chains
In April of this year, I was inspired by God to do a painting. The scripture comes from Acts 16. I would like to share with you verses 22-30 from the New King James Version:
Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 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. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
I love this scripture! Paul and Silas were literally in shackles and because of their prayers and praise to God their chains were loosed. Not only that, but there were people brought into the kingdom of God!
How many of us are in shackles? Not literal shackles, but shackles of guilt, pain, grief, unbelief, doubt, fear, sin, shame, and the list goes on. When we are in the heat of the moment, it’s easy for us to get caught up in our feelings, which makes it difficult, like there are blinders on our eyes preventing us from seeing and recognizing that our enemy is using these moments to put us in a pit.
What if we kept this information on the forefront of our minds and put into play?
Let me share an experience with you that proves true the word of God. I was working in a warehouse environment, working by myself. I don’t remember specifically what I felt condemned for, but I was sinking deeper and deeper into this dark pit. Depression and worthlessness was taking over me. All of a sudden I was given a revelation from God. Our God isn’t a God of condemnation; He brings correction to those He loves. What I felt was condemnation. I began to sing songs of worship and then my worship turned into prayer. My spirit of heaviness was replaced with a garment of praise! Thank you Jesus!
I want to leave you with some lyrics from a song called “I Bless Your Name” written by Elizabeth Goodine.
Selah. Lyrics to “I Bless Your Name”. https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/7037596/Selah/I+Bless+Your+Name
Some midnight hour if you should find
You’re in a prison in your mind
Reach out and praise, defy those chains
And they will fall in Jesus’ name
I pray that this encourages you to defy the chains of guilt, pain, grief, unbelief, doubt, fear, sin, shame, and whatever else the devil may use to bind you! Jesus came to set the captives free. That means you and me! And as we are set free, it creates another testimony to share in the world that will bring people into the kingdom of God, just like Paul and Silas. Thank you Lord!
© 2021 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved