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Acts 16:16-31
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18 And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20 And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21 They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
I had an interesting conversation once with a Church of Christ pastor. Among other things we talked about music in the church. He was under the conviction that everything in the Old Testament was no longer valid for Christians, and that examples in the New Testament were binding on Christians today. That meant there was to be one cup in the celebration of Holy Communion (no individual cups). It meant, also, that there were to be no instruments used in the church, “for it says sing, making melodies in your heart,” he told me. I didn’t bother asking him if their singing was silent (in your heart) singing. I will admit, incidentally, that I’ve heard that the singing is especially beautiful in these churches which do not use instrumentation.
Instruments or not Paul and Silas are not just making melodies in their hearts. They are singing! Their hymns and prayers are ascending to God and touching the hearts of the people in the prison. The evidence of this is the earthquake and the non-action of the prisoners when the prison doors are opened and the shackles fall off the hands of the prisoners. God’s answer to their prayer and praise is an earthquake – unless you believe in coincidences more than you believe in prayer. And you might say that paralyzing fear kept the prisoners in their cells rather than the Holy Spirit’s impact. But I’m going with a Holy Spirit inspired fear and hope.
I listen mostly to classical music – unless you count the disco, pop and rock and roll music they play at the gym we go to. We also listen to Contemporary Christian Music. I love Tobymac, Third Day, Elevation Worship, Kip Fox, and Chris Tomlin to name a few. Give me also Michael W. Smith and the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir if I’m in the mood for some oldies. And if you want to go really old school: Bach, Handel, Brahms, and Mendelssohn’s religious works edify me richly. And don’t forget Martin Luther’s hymns!
When we were facing some grave medical concerns over our youngest child, I would often go into the sanctuary of the church I served. I’d get there early and pray and sing hymns. I came to love the hymn, Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart. Now, when I wake up in the middle of the night I’ll sing the Agnus Dei or Kyrie (in my heart-not outloud!). I’ll silently pray the Lord’s Prayer, and recite psalms in those quiet hours. These calm my heart and God grants peace in those moments.
You may or may not have a great singing voice. But I’m confident that God loves to hear the songs we sing from our hearts and to his glory – no matter how well we may sing them.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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