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Around"); document.writeln("midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other"); document.writeln("prisoners were listening.¹

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For the last"); document.writeln("twenty years, at least, I have made it a habit to play worship music anytime I"); document.writeln("get in my car. I used to commute to work every day, so filling my soul with"); document.writeln("worship was essential in keeping my attitude positive and kind in all"); document.writeln("circumstances because when you are praising God, it is really hard for negative"); document.writeln("thoughts to sneak in! As my children have grown, they too have gotten in the"); document.writeln("habit of listening to worship when we are driving. They will be the ones to put"); document.writeln("our favorite worship playlist on, even without me saying a word. On good days"); document.writeln("and hard days, we drive along, lifting our voices in praise, and I cannot help"); document.writeln("but think of all the amazing things God has planned in all of it.

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The other day,"); document.writeln("a song came on and I immediately got captured by the lyrics:

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Let praise be a weapon that silences"); document.writeln("the enemy

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Let praise be a weapon that conquers all"); document.writeln("anxiety

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Let it rise, let praise arise

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We will see You break down every wall

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We will watch the giants fall

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Fear cannot survive when we praise You

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The God of breakthroughs on our side

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Forever we lift Him high

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With all creation cry, God, we praise"); document.writeln("You²

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I often think"); document.writeln("of the apostle Paul and all the challenges he faced. In the verse today, we see"); document.writeln("him sitting with Silas in prison, after being severely beaten. In order to keep"); document.writeln("them from escaping, the jailer had put them in the inner dungeon and clamped"); document.writeln("their feet in the stocks. Things did not look too promising, but even then they"); document.writeln("lifted their voices in prayer and praise to the Lord. Then, all of a sudden,"); document.writeln("there was a massive earthquake that shook the entire prison, and all the doors"); document.writeln("flew open! The jailer, thinking that all had escaped, was about to kill himself"); document.writeln("when Paul stopped him. That jailer came to know Christ as his Savior that"); document.writeln("night. God can do amazing things when we choose to praise and lift Him high in"); document.writeln("all circumstances, and it is in the darkest times when our praise should ring"); document.writeln("the loudest!

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Suggested"); document.writeln("prayer: Dear God, You alone are worthy of my praise. You are always good, and"); document.writeln("Your plans are good. Give me a heart of worship and help me be an example of"); document.writeln("faith and praise to others, so that they too will come to know You. Thank you"); document.writeln("for hearing and answering my prayer. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

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1. Acts"); document.writeln("16:25 (NLT).

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2. We"); document.writeln("Praise You by Brandon Lake. Revival is in the Air, 2020.

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The Encounter"); document.writeln("for today was written by: Crystal B.

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