Impromptu Praise 即兴赞美
Dexu Xia
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Acts 16:25
During a short-term missions trip to Ethiopia, our team accompanied another team from a local ministry on an outreach to a group of young men who’d hit hard times and were living in shacks in a literal junkyard. They were such a delight to meet! We shared testimonies, encouraging words, and prayers together. One of my favorite moments that evening was when a local team member played his guitar and we got to worship with our new friends under the radiant moon. What a sacred moment! Despite their desperate situation, these men had hope and joy that can only be found in Jesus.
In Acts 16, we read about another impromptu praise time. This one broke out in a jail in the city of Philippi. Paul and Silas had been arrested, beaten, flogged, and imprisoned while serving Jesus. Instead of giving in to despair, they worshiped God by "praying and singing” in their jail cell. “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” (vv. 25-26).
The jailer's first thought was to end his life, but when he realized the prisoners hadn’t escaped, he was in awe of God, and salvation came to his family (vv. 27-34).
God delights in hearing us praise Him. Let’s worship Him during both the highs and lows of life. By: Nancy Gavilanes
How has God enabled you to praise and worship Him even in the bad times? How has He revealed Himself in remarkable ways when you’ve done so?
Dear God, please help me to praise You no matter what I’m facing.
约在半夜，保罗和西拉祷告唱诗赞美上帝。—使徒行传16章25节
在一次前往埃塞俄比亚的短宣之旅中，我们与另一个当地的事工团队一起去探访一群年轻人。他们遭遇困境，住在垃圾场的棚屋里。有机会见到他们让我很高兴！我们与他们分享见证、鼓励的话，并且一同祈祷。那天晚上，当地团队的一位成员弹奏吉他，而我们与新朋友们一起在皎洁的月光下敬拜赞美主。那时刻是我最喜欢的，是那么神圣，令人难忘！他们虽然处于绝望的境况中，但却拥有仅在耶稣里才能得到的盼望和喜乐。
在使徒行传第16章，我们读到另一个即兴赞美的时刻，发生在腓立比城的一所监狱里。保罗和西拉虽然因事奉耶稣而被逮捕、殴打、鞭打和监禁，但他们并没有陷入绝望，反而在牢房里“祷告唱诗”敬拜上帝，“忽然地大震动，甚至监牢的地基都摇动了，监门立刻全开，众囚犯的锁链也都松开了”（25-26节）。
当时，狱卒的第一个念头是结束自己的生命。然而，当他知道众囚犯并没有逃脱时，不禁对上帝充满敬畏，后来他全家人也都相信了耶稣（27-34节）。
上帝喜悦听到我们赞美祂，不管我们正处于人生的高山或低谷，让我们都来敬拜祂！
上帝如何让你在逆境中，依然能赞美敬拜祂？
当你这样做时，上帝如何奇妙地彰显祂自己？
亲爱的上帝，无论我面对任何境况，请帮助我仍能赞美祢。