Are You A Prisoner?
By Pastor Timothy Burdick
When we think of prisoners, most of the time we think of someone who has committed a crime. To see what Paul has to say about this subject, however, please read Ephesians 4:1 with me: “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called.”
When you really stop and think about it, this verse makes it clear that we are all prisoners either to our circumstances or to Christ. Most of us dwell on what we are going through, becoming prisoners to the things that enslave us. Let me tell you a story from my own life:
As a child, I grew up in a semi-rural setting. Being blind, though I was surrounded by family, I was without my friends most of the time and there was no public transportation. Even after I committed my life to Christ, I lived what I call a “yo-yo” lifestyle because I allowed my circumstances to imprison me. If you do the same thing, I am here to say, that with God’s help, you too can break the cycle. You can live a life of joy and victory.
About this time, I can hear a lot of skepticism. You might be thinking something like “Yeah, that’s great for you, but you don’t know what I’m going through." My answer to that is, you’re right, but while I don’t know your problems, God does, and He wants to make a positive difference in your life.
To be a prisoner of the Lord does not mean to hide your head in the sand and merely escape from your troubles. Becoming His prisoner means turning over all your problems to Him, trusting that He has your best interest in mind, and letting Him walk with you through the storms that always occur in life. It means getting your eyes off yourself and focusing on God, and all the things you have to be thankful for. I alluded to the fact above that many of us are preoccupied with our circumstances, but now let me tell you how to be consumed with God.
In order to become a prisoner of the Lord, fill your mind with His Word and while your circumstances might not change immediately, your perspective will. Your spiritual eyes will be opened to the God who loves you and is in control of your life.
While becoming a prisoner of the Lord is not necessarily an easy journey, make the decision to follow Him and God will help you take the first step today. Even though this requires discipline on your part, you will find that God’s strength is there to help and to lift you above the circumstances that used formerly weighed you down.
Visit Pastor Timothy at New Vision Ministries website www.mynvm.org
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