Day 79 A New View From Behind Prison Walls!

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:12-14

Imagine sitting in a cold, dark, and dreary prison cell, shackled in chains, not knowing if or when you are going to be released. What would your response be in a situation like that? If you were allowed to write letters to your family and friends what would you say? Would your words reflect the horrible reality of your situation or would you be focused on penning words of hope and encouragement?

Would the readers of your letters be filled with joyful expectation of what God was about to do in their lives because in the past when you wrote, God performed miracles. While Paul was in prison he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Prison was no obstacle for Paul and his letters reflected that truth. Those around him became more confident in sharing the Gospel and those receiving his letters became empowered in their faith.

With every fiery trial Paul faced, his words became more passionate! With every imprisonment, his message became more intense! In prison he was surrounded by prisoners and guards who heard the message of the Gospel daily! And the impact of Paul’s reaction to his situation and the letters he wrote didn’t end with his release from prison or even with his death. 2000 years later people are still being encouraged by the letters he penned from prison! Paul’s Epistles are the bedrock of the Christian faith!

What fiery trial are you going through in your life and do you have the same mindset that Paul had when he was in prison? If not, it is time to ask the Holy Spirit for help. Paul was not a super human with super human powers! He was a normal human with supernatural power! And his supernatural power came from the Holy Spirit operating in Him no matter where he was or what he was going through. This same supernatural power of the Holy Spirit is available for each one of us but we have to ask for it and believe by faith that we can walk in it!

If we will do this, we will begin to experience fiery trials in a whole new way! Our words will begin to bring hope and encouragement to the people around us and they will be empowered in the faith! Instead of fearing the fiery trial we have to embrace it as an opportunity to grow and mature in our faith! We have to set aside our knowledge of the situation and seek the knowledge of God if we are going to become empowered to share the Gospel during the fiery trial! If we are going to see God will and work according to His good purpose we have to be willing to let Him speak to us in the midst of it! And we have to seek wisdom and understanding from the Holy Spirit over seeking information and advice from man.

We have to understand that it was in prison where Paul began to discover the mystery of Christ that had been withheld from men for generations! It was in prison where Paul was overwhelmed by God and discovered his true purpose in life! It was in prison where Paul became an empowered minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! And it was in prison where Paul adopted a heavenly mindset!

A fiery trial has no power to destroy unless we adopt a mindset of defeat during it! We don’t always have a choice whether or not the fiery trial occurs, but we do have the choice about how we are going to react to it, just like Paul did. And we have the choice of what messages we are going to speak during them. If we do as Paul did and adopt a Kingdom mindset when we find ourselves in physical, financial, or relational prisons, we will begin to see it as an opportunity to further the Gospel. We will be strengthened in our inner man with our words and actions reflecting the glory of God! I want to encourage you to spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and understanding and I want you to meditate on the truth that Christ in you is the hope of glory! This is where you will begin to view your fiery trials and prisons as places of growth, maturity, and Kingdom purpose!

Prayer: Spend time in prayer asking for the scales to fall from your eyes in relation to the way you view fiery trials and prisons. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what it means to have a Kingdom mindset. Begin to praise God for giving you a purpose even in the midst of your fiery trials and prisons and ask Him to strengthen you so your words and actions reflect that purpose.