Psalm 89
Day 89: Be blessed
As I write this the door is open and I am hearing only the birds singing and the sound of me typing this devotional, it is simply the best time of the day for me.
The birds have been singing since the sun rose today at 5.01am. The Bible calls us to sing regardless of whether the sun has risen. God always does something in you before around you.
Ethan, a musician of David’s temple knew this and begins his Psalm in such a way, I will sing, v1.
We must understand the power of the song.
Let the story of a Chinese leader teach us today:
I was attending a training course for my house church network’s council members and youth leaders. The Public Security Bureau (PSB) raided us the first day. All the leaders were arrested.
The prison authorities shaved our heads and interrogated us. We were warned that the hardened inmates would beat us. So with much trepidation, another brother and I entered our cell.
We were greeted by the sight of 16 other inmates, lined up in two rows and thumping their fists. My heart beat rapidly as I sent prayers up to God.
The leader of the gang asked, “Why are you here?”
“Because we are Christians,” I replied.
“You don’t beat people up?”
“No,” I assured him.
“Do you sing?”
“Yes,” I answered.
The leader ordered me to sing a song. I wept as I sang. The Holy Spirit moved in our midst, and by the time I finished singing, every prisoner was also in tears. To my shock, the gang leader then asked to hear the gospel.
After that, my cellmates hungered to hear the gospel every day. One Sunday, we held a worship service. The prison guard demanded to know who was behind it. He threatened to punish everyone if no one spoke up. I stood up and confessed.
I was forced to remove my clothes and stand at an inclined angle to the wall. The gang leader couldn’t bear it anymore. He asked to be punished with me. All the others volunteered to do the same. The infuriated guard stormed out. I was moved by my cellmates’ act. One of them, who had been there for three years, became a believer that day.
“China—Where God Is Behind Bars,” Today’s Christian (2004)
Missions Paul 