I began my relationship with the Lord during my first few months in prison.
Seeing a woman studying her Bible, I spoke to her about how badly I wanted to leave prison. She told me to read Isaiah 61:1 every night before I went to bed (The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to poor: He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound). And I did. But I missed the whole point of what she was giving me. I read that Scripture like it was magic. Like the prison doors would open and I would go home. When my parole was denied, I didn’t understand why.
The verse excited me, but I wondered why no one else was reading it. In my mind, the whole prison population should quote this Scripture in harmony every night. When the doors didn’t open, it didn’t take long for me to set that particular Scripture aside. The lady I talked to really didn’t know much.
But instead of giving up, I continued studying God’s Word and growing in my walk with Him. Later, when I looked at the verse in context, I realized it was a promise and was true. The whole chapter was full of hope, and God did those things for me. Eventually, my physical prison doors opened, but it was my spiritual prison doors that swung wide first.
Each word in the Bible represents more than our current physical circumstances. Had God released me from prison because I prayed that Scripture, the current circumstance may have improved, but my overall situation—my salvation, would have been lost. When I initially took hold of that promise, I hadn’t learned anything about me or what caused me to do the things that put me in prison. I would not have become what God needed me to be. Now I’m different. There is a much larger picture than the one I originally focused on.
We must have faith and trust that God will keep His promise in the most perfect way possible. Open your heart and let Him free you of your chains.
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Aleta since I know you personally I can see and feel your faith. Your definitely helping me want to be closer. Thanks for inspiration.
Beautifully & well said.There Is no limit to what God can & will do, if we will hold to him & keep the faith. Well put my dear friend:-)
Incredible read! You see! You see!! Thank you Aleta, and thank you God!!
So glad our Father Knows Best! I am so glad you have been set free. Thank you for sharing your story. It is inspiring to not give up on God and let him do things his way in his timing. Blessings to you! Debbie Norred www.heartkeepers.org
This is a beautiful devotion Aleta inspire me to grow in my faith an trust in the Lord an his promises! Thank God for Aleta! Keep in doing the Lords work may u b blessed