In my dream-filled mind, I saw her. She was a young, teenaged girl who had just performed some talented feat. It was not clear if her success was in sports or an artistic expression. At the moment I saw her, she was winded, but thankful for a performance executed with excellence. Suddenly, a crowd began to applaud her accomplishment. I could feel her emotions and hear her thoughts. A place of deep vulnerability within her was touched, moved significantly. She bowed, lowering her head and body. Recognizing her abilities were not her own, she began to quietly worship. A bottomless, forceful praise began to spring from her. Her body and seemingly her soul began sobbing as she continued to worship.
Thinking it was their cheers that humbled and moved her, the crowd escalated their demonstrations of approval and delight resulting in an almost convulsive response from the young girl. Inwardly she offered profuse praise and adoration to God who had empowered her. It was euphoric and otherworldly. She did not want to stop. Silently in her soul she spoke, “It’s all for You, Abba God.”
Eventually, a man approached her from behind, placing his arm around her shoulders. She stilled and the intensity eased as though a strong wind lifted the victory cloak from her, flitting it away as a bird gliding to a faraway destination.
Within moments, I was suddenly awakened as the earth shook, my bed vibrated, and the decorative metal cross on the wall began to rattle. Having experienced this before, I knew exactly what was happening.
So, I began to pray, and pray, and pray more. The scary part was not knowing if it was just beginning and would continue to intensify, threatening the safety and well-being of people and property or if this was the final rumbling. The vibrations continued for what felt like long minutes but eventually subsided.
About a half hour later, it was confirmed by the U. S. Geological Survey. A 4.3 magnitude earthquake shook our world from about 20 miles away. Later I recalled:
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
The crowd joined in the attack and against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. Acts 16:17-26 niv 1984
Wrongfully accused and wrongfully jailed, Paul and Silas prayed and praised. Much like the young girl in my dream who bowed in humble, reverent worship, Paul and Silas bowed. They did not shake their fists to heaven demanding justice, restitution or reward. The girl in the dream did not rise to receive the glory, but like the ancient godly men, bowed to acknowledge and honor Him who is the Maker of all. It was in moments of deep, heartfelt praise that the earthquakes came.
What heavy oppression might be lifted, what constraining chains might clatter and drop to the floor at the sound of our sincere worship? Who around us might benefit as well? As the prophet Isaiah wrote, let us proclaim:
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you! … Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways … Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:1-8 niv 1984
So, who will shake up our world with praise? Hallelujah! Let us praise Adonai!
Reflective Resource: Joy to the World compiled and edited by Terri Kalfas is a Christmas anthology including ‘Praise is Pleasant’ by Tanja Dufrene. Royalties from these book sales are donated to Samaritan’s Purse.
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