May God be gracious to us and bless us and
make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth.
-Psalm 67:1-4
Looking upwards helps you discover the design within you.
Chuck Colson was in prison, serving his sentence because of his role in the Watergate scandal. However, while incarcerated in prison, he put his trust in Jesus. It was a real and lasting transformation, not a short-lived decision. As a result of his conversion, Chuck realized his God-given desire to reach out to prisoners.
Prison Fellowship® was born in Chuck’s heart when his own life changed. It is the largest ministry in the world that encourages prisoners and their families. Your story is powerful and connected to many other people who will be touched through what God has accomplished in your life. Have you noticed how many times your journey helps you relate to other people in similar situations?
When I think about heaven and how good it will be, I just want everyone to be there enjoying the satisfaction together. I know what it is like to live without God. As a young child growing up, no one told me about the grace of Jesus. I heard the message for the first time when I was 18 years old. Nothing in my life can compare to my experience of coming to know Jesus.
A driving passion in my life is to let people know how much God loves them. It is fulfilling to serve with ministries like Global Media Outreach® through whom over 20 million people have indicated a decision to follow Jesus in less than a year’s time (www.globalmediaoutreach.com). Through today’s high-tech communications, people all over the world are learning about an eternal relationship with God.
Jesus is anointed to set captives free (Luke 4:18). There is no habit, addiction, or unhealthy pattern of thinking that He cannot break. As David wrote in Psalm 51, God changed his life so that he would reach out to people who need hope. God has uniquely and wonderfully made you (Psalm 139) with an incredible purpose (Ephesians 2:8-10). God has future plans for your life that are good (Jeremiah 29:11). Take hold of these truths as you make the most of your opportunities (Ephesians 5:13-19).
How have your trials shaped your life and provided fuel to help other people?
Excerpt republished with permission from A New Season by Jesse Bradley c. 2013.
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