Hope, Even in Prison

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;
but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 
II Timothy 1:7

This morning my chaplain gave a timely sermon on what it means to be a well disciplined soldier for Jesus Christ...

He has been sharing this message from the second letter to Timothy in the New Testament for two consecutive Sundays. And as he took the congregation through all that's required in being a good disciple, I had to privately confess to the Lord that there are areas in my life where I fall short and miss the mark. It was a time for honest introspection.

However, as a sidebar to the chaplain's sermon, because there was still time remaining before the prisoners had to return to our respective housing units, I was asked to share a short exhortation. So I went behind the pulpit to give an approximately ten minute talk. My theme was, "Hope, even in prison." I told the men of God's faithfulness to me during my thirty-one years of incarceration. How that even in here I have a spiritually satisfying life because Jesus is with me. I read John 10:10 which speaks of the Christian being able to have an abundant life through the Lord, and how this promise is for those in prison, too.

I hope the men were encouraged by what I had to say.

D.B.