The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit: a broken and contrite heart,
O God, thou will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Prison, by its very nature, is not designed to make a criminal offender into a better person...
spirit: a broken and contrite heart,
O God, thou will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Prison, by its very nature, is not designed to make a criminal offender into a better person...
A convicted felon may over time come to see the error of his ways. And he may, at this point, place his life into the hands of God and thus begin the long process of becoming a responsible member of society.
But, for the most part, prison, at its most basic level, is a place for punishment. Privileges and rights are taken away. In a correctional setting a man finds himself banished from his family and community. And, in many other ways, it may cause a person to lose hope, too.
Such an environment makes it easier for the Devil to do his dastardly work of deceit. As he will often get a man to reflect on his past sins and failings. While, at the same time, Satan will blind a prisoner from seeing the tender mercies of the Savior who died for this man's sins. He will, if possible, cause a lost soul not to come to the knowledge that Jesus longs to forgive him.
In the prison setting, as in many other places, Satan works tirelessly to paint the bleakest picture possible in the mind of a prisoner so as to crush his spirit. His soul becomes filled with despair. And such despair, when combined with excessive guilt, is the perfect mix to cause a man to be more likely to commit suicide.
But, as I reflect on my own life, I too was once at this very same point. I was overwhelmed by feelings of worthlessness, and guilt. I didn't think I deserve to live any longer. Thoughts of suicide filled my mind. Frankly, if it had not been for God's divine intervention, I probably would have self-destructed long ago.
However, approximately ten years into my prison sentence God's love and kindness finally won me over. Somehow He breathed new life into my crushed and broken spirit. God taught me how to place my hope and faith in Him rather than simply trying to live by my own strength. Praise His wonderful name!
D.B.
But, for the most part, prison, at its most basic level, is a place for punishment. Privileges and rights are taken away. In a correctional setting a man finds himself banished from his family and community. And, in many other ways, it may cause a person to lose hope, too.
Such an environment makes it easier for the Devil to do his dastardly work of deceit. As he will often get a man to reflect on his past sins and failings. While, at the same time, Satan will blind a prisoner from seeing the tender mercies of the Savior who died for this man's sins. He will, if possible, cause a lost soul not to come to the knowledge that Jesus longs to forgive him.
In the prison setting, as in many other places, Satan works tirelessly to paint the bleakest picture possible in the mind of a prisoner so as to crush his spirit. His soul becomes filled with despair. And such despair, when combined with excessive guilt, is the perfect mix to cause a man to be more likely to commit suicide.
But, as I reflect on my own life, I too was once at this very same point. I was overwhelmed by feelings of worthlessness, and guilt. I didn't think I deserve to live any longer. Thoughts of suicide filled my mind. Frankly, if it had not been for God's divine intervention, I probably would have self-destructed long ago.
However, approximately ten years into my prison sentence God's love and kindness finally won me over. Somehow He breathed new life into my crushed and broken spirit. God taught me how to place my hope and faith in Him rather than simply trying to live by my own strength. Praise His wonderful name!
D.B.
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