Paul and Silas were a couple of young, hardworking followers of Jesus. Because they talked about their faith, magistrates in a Roman city ordered them to be beaten and thrown into the local dungeon—not a great place to be. (See Acts 16.)
At midnight, deep in the darkness of the dank, squalid hole carved out of the side of a hill, Paul and Silas start singing. They sing of their faith. Songs of praise and joy.
Jesus is Lord. God is my shepherd. On and on.
The other men in prison listen (as if they had a choice). As they sing, a sudden earthquake shakes the city. The dungeon doors fly open.
Paul and Silas’s chains drop off them…and every other prisoner’s chains drop off, too.
When Paul and Silas have their breakout moment, it becomes a breakout moment for everyone around them.
There are people in your life who are just waiting for you to break free, because when you get set free, they’ll be set free.
Diligence, effort, focus, prayer ... then the song God puts into your life. It's a song of freedom.
Your hard work is not just about you. There are people in your world who will not get their breakthrough until you grab your breakthrough.
In that prison, it may have seemed like just some guys singing, but their words shook the heavens.
Be daring. Go after Jesus.
You may end up in a tough spot, but from your heart will come the sounds of freedom.
And that is what will change the world.
Exercise your freedom today. Let someone hear you.
