Be Free
"The Lord was cleaning us out, transforming our hearts, allowing our minds to be changed into the men we were created to be."
- Kevin
When Kevin chose to commit himself to God and allow him to transform his heart and mind. This allowed him to who he was meant to be. God’s love was felt, even from a jail cell.
Kevin was a young man who dreamed of playing college ball after high school. Instead, he got involved with gang activity and found himself facing a prison sentence. While in jail, Kevin sought healing from God for an injury to his feet and was astonished by how quickly and completely his prayer was answered. He then asked the Lord for freedom from jail, although he had been sentenced to 3-5 years. He was released the following day.
These spiritual encounters caused Kevin to examine the difference between believing and living for God. He had always known God existed but didn’t know who Jesus was. He went on to college and began ministering to others by sharing his own story of healing and change.
Something To Consider:
Sometimes we see our lives from our mistakes believing that we do not deserve redemption or God’s love. This is not true. Even when we have fallen and feel unworthy of healing or love, God is there beside us waiting for us to reach out to Him. Even from a jail cell.
Words to Live By:
“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked” Proverbs 24:16 (NIV).
“ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).
“He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust” Psalm 103: 10-14 (ESV).
Dr. Ron’s Perspective:
It is often said by mental health professionals that the past is the best predictor of future behavior. Childhood and teenage life experiences do shape our personalities and our view of the world and ourselves. Family dysfunction, abuse, neglect, and broken relationships can lead to a pattern of struggle and heartache. Hopelessness and despair can eventually set in and become a way of living. Childhood hurts can negatively affect a person’s self-esteem and self-worth, but a difficult childhood does not have to keep one from feeling happy and discovering their purpose in life. The past does not have to define your character. We must make a choice to either let the past be a roadblock to success or use “life’s hard knocks” to grow us and enable us to help other hurting people. Identify a person or a group of people that could benefit from your wisdom and experiences. Reach out to them and show understanding and compassion. This step alone will go a long way in helping you feel better about yourself.
Grace Notes by Philip Yancey
“Does God guide? Yes I believe. Most times God guides in subtle ways, by feeding ideas into our minds, speaking through a nagging sensation of dissatisfaction, inspiring us to choose better than we otherwise would have done, bring to the surface hidden dangers of temptation, and perhaps by rearranging certain circumstances…God’s guidance will supply real help, but in ways that will not overwhelm my freedom” (36).
