Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37 NKJ
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11
I gave my testimony last night at the state prison in Gatesville. Satan has been fighting against me speaking there. This was the third time I was scheduled. The first two times, the prison was on lock down for various reasons and no one was allowed in. Last night I finally made it there. I was told that the guards could stop me at any time to do a count. It is usually done once during their chapel time. I was stopped 3 time for prisoner count last night. Truly Satan did not want the ladies to hear what I had to say.
I must say that was probably the best speech I've ever done. Despite the counts and the barred wire on top of the 12 foot chain link fences, I truly felt God at work. I really left my script more than I ever had before. God was giving me His words to say. After I spoke, they broke into small groups and I had a chance to meet several of the ladies. I have no idea of why they are in prison but many of them have come to know Jesus while they've been there. In that respect, prison has turned their lives around.
The ladies I met were absolutely awesome. Some of them know far more scripture than I do even with my years of church and bible studies. Many of them walked up to me and said that i had "told the story of their life." One young woman who is still struggling told me some of her story. Her story makes mine look like a walk in the park. Not only was she sexually abused by her father, but also by other men in the household. During this same time she was physically abused by her mother. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she told me tid bits of her life. She was clearly wanting me to tell her how to get past all of this abuse.
The truth is that even after you accept Jesus into your life, everything doesn't automatically become better after your dip in the waters of baptism. It still takes time. Jesus IS there with us and for us but He does not wipe away all of our past. To be a servant to Him we have to learn how to face down the past. We have to learn how to stand up to it and that takes time. We have to look those pains in the face and tell them that Satan will not win. Jesus has already won the victory of us(Rom. 8:37). We just need to reach the point where we accept that the victory I already won. Some people can do it in just a few years. For some, like me, it takes years of facing it day by day before we are ready to accept it. God has a plan for us and He will give us hope in our final outcome. (Jer. 29:11) We just need to remember that that final outcome may not be today but it will be in God's time.
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. Jeremiah 29:11
I gave my testimony last night at the state prison in Gatesville. Satan has been fighting against me speaking there. This was the third time I was scheduled. The first two times, the prison was on lock down for various reasons and no one was allowed in. Last night I finally made it there. I was told that the guards could stop me at any time to do a count. It is usually done once during their chapel time. I was stopped 3 time for prisoner count last night. Truly Satan did not want the ladies to hear what I had to say.
I must say that was probably the best speech I've ever done. Despite the counts and the barred wire on top of the 12 foot chain link fences, I truly felt God at work. I really left my script more than I ever had before. God was giving me His words to say. After I spoke, they broke into small groups and I had a chance to meet several of the ladies. I have no idea of why they are in prison but many of them have come to know Jesus while they've been there. In that respect, prison has turned their lives around.
The ladies I met were absolutely awesome. Some of them know far more scripture than I do even with my years of church and bible studies. Many of them walked up to me and said that i had "told the story of their life." One young woman who is still struggling told me some of her story. Her story makes mine look like a walk in the park. Not only was she sexually abused by her father, but also by other men in the household. During this same time she was physically abused by her mother. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she told me tid bits of her life. She was clearly wanting me to tell her how to get past all of this abuse.
The truth is that even after you accept Jesus into your life, everything doesn't automatically become better after your dip in the waters of baptism. It still takes time. Jesus IS there with us and for us but He does not wipe away all of our past. To be a servant to Him we have to learn how to face down the past. We have to learn how to stand up to it and that takes time. We have to look those pains in the face and tell them that Satan will not win. Jesus has already won the victory of us(Rom. 8:37). We just need to reach the point where we accept that the victory I already won. Some people can do it in just a few years. For some, like me, it takes years of facing it day by day before we are ready to accept it. God has a plan for us and He will give us hope in our final outcome. (Jer. 29:11) We just need to remember that that final outcome may not be today but it will be in God's time.
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