I Will Praise The Lord

I Will Praise The Lord
Words and Music by Ray Boltz

Bleeding in the darkness
The cell was cold and black
Driven to unconsciousness
The stripes on his back
He heard a voice call out his name
His mind began to clear
And in the darkness Paul replied
Silas I’m here
Oh my brother Silas
Paul uttered with a groan
Today when they were beating us
I thought We were going home
And when I opened up my eyes
I was going to look at Jesus’ face
But here we are together
In this dreadful place

But I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

This may be a prison
And these may be chains
Still I am free
Free to praise His name
And in tribulation
My heart still sings
He is my Messiah
Yes He is my King of Kings
Prisoners started waking up
Singing filled their ears
Some men started swearing
Others were in tears
Then suddenly it happened
There was no mistake
As Paul and Silas praised the Lord
The walls began to shake

I will praise the Lord
I will praise the Lord
No matter what tomorrow brings
What it has in store
I will praise the Lord

I love this song. It is undoubtedly one of my all time favorites, it always brings me back to the reality of where I really am. Acts 16 is also one of my favorites chapters to read, it has brought hope to me countless times.

Today, I was leaving church, feeling somewhat dissappointed. I find myself yet again in the midst of a spiritual struggle, and the conflict between my flesh and my spirit has me in a state of confusion. I am still trying to do things in my own way, on my own terms, and in my own strength. But God is showing the purpose of His spirit in my life (and we will get to that soon, believe me I can't wait to write the blog about knowing the purpose of the Holy Spirit, in your life), and it is to be my helper.

So in my car on the way home, I was telling God out of my dissappointment that I would do what it seems He is telling me (God doesn't always tell us we are going to get what we want). So, I said, "God I will praise You where ever I am." In my spirit, I knew what God was saying. Really? In chains (not physical chains, but spiritual ones)? See Paul and Silas could have easily sat in the prison and grumbled and complained and blamed God for their current situation, but broken, bruised, and near death they rejoiced in their suffering.

This isn't the first time God has spoken to me about rejoicing in my so called sufferings (cause really do I suffer as much as Paul and Silas did?).

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ

and...
1 Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

and...
Romans 5:2b-5
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Not that my sufferings are anywhere near what the early christians had to suffer. I have never been beaten or tortured for the sake of Christ. But I fight the same fight that has been fought, even long ago, the struggle is as Eph 6 puts it; "... not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." There are times I feel alone, and times when I feel so defeated, but I know that God has not left me, and that the final victory belongs to Him. It is this hope that should cause me to praise him even the midst of the battle, the struggle, the suffering.

Lord I will praise You where ever I am. If I am alone, if I am defeated, if I am living victoriously, I will praise You. I will praise You in the depths of valleys and the heights of the mountains, You are there and You are with me, and I will praise You.