Don't wait. Don't forget. Not a minute. Not a second. Instead, praise God now. If you and I wait to praise God until after this pandemic -- or after something earthshaking and amazing or miraculous happens -- we've got the wrong order. Praise come first.

Before the victory. Before the storm passes over.

Doubt that?

Paul and Silas, in their classic Bible praise story, were bound in chains in the dungeon of a jail -- their bodies bruised and bloodied by their jailers. But they still lifted their voices to praise God.

And what an odd sound. Praise in a jail. Sung by two beaten, bloodied prisoners. It's not logical.

Not logical, too, during a pandemic. As a Washington Post-ABC poll, said this week, 7 in 10 Americans say the outbreak is a source of stress, and 1 in 3 say it's causing "serious" stress. (Further, 7 in 10 Americans are worried "they may catch the disease.") Worldwide, with the grievous toll of sick and dying climbing, the fear is real. A matter of life and death.

But as the psalmist declared, "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised" (Psalm 145:3 kjv).

And Paul and Silas? Their situation was dire. Yes, life and death, indeed.

Yet as the book of Acts records, as the apostle and Silas praised God, the earth shook (Acts. 16:36). "And the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!" (v. 26).

Praise is power, indeed. It shakes off what holds us -- unshackling the prison of stress, anxiety, desperation, and fear afflicting so many now. But praise comes first.

When we're bound -- by stress, prison, pandemic or any problem -- in the midst of that pressure, it's hard to remember we should praise God first, not after it's all conquered, cleaned up and defeated. But while it's happening, praise God -- yes, in advance. That is the proper order of praise.

In fact, the word "praise" (which in Latin means "prize") shares a root with the Latin word for "preposition." As we recall from grammar lessons at school, a preposition is the word that comes before the main thing. Such words hold the "before" position -- the preposition -- setting up the main topic.

In our spiritual lives, praise sits in that same place. It holds the preposition, setting up God's power, ushering in His Holy Spirit -- so He can move in our hearts, circumstances, and lives.

And no prison chains -- and no pandemic -- can tie down that power.

As Jesus declared, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 niv).

So, don't wait for your chains to fall or your prison walls to crumble -- or a virus to be defeated. Praise God first. Right now. Despite our circumstances.

Praise Him for being God. For His mercy. For His deliverance. For His hope. For His blessing. For His healing power. For His keeping grace. For His empowering Spirit. For His conquering right hand.

Then stand back.

Your prison walls are coming down!