Suddenly by Stephen Young
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&view=post&articleid=111421&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Stephen%20Young&fldTopic=0
By Stephen Young
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Acts 16:25-26 (NLT): Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!
It's possible that I've used this title before but here it is again. Take time to read all of chapter 16 but the context of this is Paul and Silas were thrown into prison for disrupting the city by preaching the Gospel and having signs and wonders follow them. Verse 20 and 21 says: "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice."
In the midst of them sitting in prison they didn't start complaining, they didn't get depressed, instead they were praying and singing hymns to God while the other prisoners were listening. Here's the first lesson we can take from this. Even though the situation wasn't in their favor and it didn't seem fair, they kept praising God. I want to encourage you, and myself, that even when you're situation isn't in your favor or doesn't seem fair, keep praising God. He's got it under control and He will make good of your circumstance. Also notice that the other prisoners were listening. Other people will listen to how you respond to both the positive and the negative things in your life.
It May Seem Like Midnight but Keep Praising
As they were praising God, suddenly, there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. The doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! There are some key words here - suddenly, immediately, and every. As they were praising, suddenly there was a massive earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. As they were praising, immediately the doors flew open. As they were praising, every prisoner had their chains fall off.
Some of you reading this may be at a very dark time in your life, it may seem like midnight but I encourage you to keep praising God. He will break through the darkness and there will be a suddenly in your life that will shake everything that's keeping you a prisoner down to its foundation! Immediately doors are going to fly open that you thought were sealed shut! And I believe that as this happens, everyone around you can be set free themselves just by simply witnessing your freedom.
Have a Paul and Silas moment and watch as, suddenly, the darkness is pierced, walls crumble, doors fly open, and even others are set free because of your testimony!
God Bless!
Stephen Young
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=196895&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Stephen%20Young&fldTopic=0
"Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people." (Proverbs 22:29, NLT) "Observe people who are good at their work — skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don't take a back seat to anyone." (Proverbs 22:29, The Message) I believe that we are called, as followers of Christ, not to take a back seat to anyone but to rise to the top and "serve kings." You may not literally serve a king, but it gives the picture of someone who is of importance. Whether you work in business or ministry, or both, you also need people around you that can help you with your vision.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=194746&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Stephen%20Young&fldTopic=0
Procrastination is something that we all deal with from time to time. Some may deal with it more than others. For some it may be almost a way of life where others may only deal with it periodically. Either way, procrastination can hold up our progress and delay success. So, how do we shift from procrastination to acceleration? It starts by understanding the meaning behind these two words as well as the root of what causes procrastination. Once we know that, we can develop a plan for our own lives that moves us from a mode of procrastination to a mode of acceleration.
http://www.identitynetwork.net/Articles-?blogid=2093&url=10&view=post&articleid=193227&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=Stephen%20Young&fldTopic=0
In my last post I talked about balance and today I want to talk about structure, and the importance of it. As I mentioned in my last post, my writings are taking a slight shift. I want you to begin to see how you can take the things that we learn in the spiritual realm, the talents and gifts that God gives us, and apply them to our natural world. How can we take these things and use what God has given us to be successful in our everyday natural world? Being structured is key to finding and keeping balance in your life. You're working in business, yet you have a call for ministry, like me, and you must balance those two parts of your life. You're called to have your feet in both worlds. Defining a structure will help you to do this and be successful.