Paul and Silas are missionaries and were led by the Holy Spirit to Macedonia.

One day a girl who was demon possessed started following them around, which led to a series of events that got them both in trouble.

“Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:16-25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Nothing extraordinary happens at midnight. If something happens at midnight, when we are supposed to be the most relaxed, perhaps there is something troubling you or circumstances are difficult and are keeping you awake.

Paul and Silas had been through great trouble and pain from being flogged. They should have been exhausted but they were awake at midnight.

Pain is something God created because He loves us. God created pathways for pain has a protective mechanism for us.

Paul and Silas were placed in stocks and had no chance to find relief from the pain of their injuries. They were in the inner cells, the worst part of the prison.

They were in the midnight of their lives, even though they were doing what God had asked them to do powerfully. (Acts 16: 5, 9-10, 14)

Yet Paul and Silas were praying and singing to God at midnight.

Their focus was on the Word of God, in prayer and praise. (Jeremiah 29:12, Psalm 145:18, Jeremiah 23:3, Psalm 66:17, Psalm 65:1, Psalm 42:5)

Prayer unlocks the keys of heaven and shuts and locks the keys of hell. The tragedy today is there are too many unoffered prayers.

Paul and Silas praised God and experienced the side effects of praising God. (Psalm 65:1)

When we praise God…
– we change our focus focus from the problem to God (Psalm 42:5)
– we become aware of His presence (Psalm 22:3)
– It is a tool of evangelism (Psalm 40:3)

We often praise God when things go well. Yet Paul and Silas were praising in adverse circumstances. Praise is important. Praising God sandwiches our prayers.(Matthew 6: 9, 13)

Many praises and hymns came out of midnight hours. We praise God because He deserves it.

Their focus was on the God of the Word. Paul and Silas were not distracted by circumstances or the evil one but kept their focus on the God of the Word. They were not singing for God but to God. The presence of God was there. (Acts 16:25)

All are worries, problems and cares are built on foundations that we keep building upon. The God of the foundation is still Jesus Christ and belongs to Him. When we praise God, those foundations we built are shaken and broken. (Acts 16:26)

Their focus was on the God of love. The jailer tried to kill himself because he knew he be held responsible. Paul and Silas stopped the jailer from doing so (Acts 16:27-28). No prisoner fled because of the presence and love of God. The knew that God loved them first and remained. (1 John 4:19)