“Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 43:5

On May 27, 2001, Islamic terrorists kidnapped Gracia and Martin Burnham on Palawan Island in the Philippines. The couple was from Wichita, Kansas, and was serving with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines. For 376 days, the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group held the missionary couple captive.

Then on June 7, 2002, Philippine troops located the captors and their hostages and attempted a rescue operation. During the operation Martin was killed and Gracia received a wound to her leg. Just before the raid, Martin and Gracia huddled together in a hammock under a makeshift tent. “Martin and Gracia had really been thinking that there would be a chance that they would not make it out alive,” said Martin’s brother, Doug, relying on a phone conversation with Gracia. “Martin said to Gracia, ‘The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let’s go out all the way. Let’s serve him all the way with gladness.'” The two then prayed in their hammock, recited Scripture verses to each other, and sang. They laid down to rest.

Then the rescue assault began and bullets began to fly. At Martin’s memorial service in Wichita, his brother Doug chose songs of joy for congregational singing, explaining, “Joy does not change. It’s not based on circumstances..There’s no reason why we can’t express that joy this morning.”

During your darkest moments, do you look up to your Heavenly Father in praise? Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He is and let your joy be in Christ throughout all circumstances.

“Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels.” – Thomas Watson

God’s Word: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 42:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING pkennedy@devotional.com