Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘Psalm 16’

Read 2 Timothy 2:19-26, Psalm 16
Unemployment

“He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send out more workers for His fields.’” Matthew 9:37

Unemployment figures are a major prosperity index for our economy.

Elections have been won and lost by these numbers.

Sometimes it seems that we do not have as much of an employment problem as we do an employable problem. The numbers of homeless, street people and dysfunctional welfare recipients who can’t seem to get or hold any job distort the unemployment figures.

As staggering as our country’s unemployment figures might seem sometimes, they cannot begin to compare with God’s ranks of the unemployed.

The harvest of souls lies rotting in the fields because there are not enough workers to harvest them.

God often has to work through others because His own have quit their jobs or refused to work.

Many of God’s unemployable cannot be used because they have let bitterness, doubt, or despair take root. Others are leading such wretched lives of blatant sin that they can no longer be used as candles to light up the darkness.

God is the greatest employer anyone could ever have. He never fires, and His employee benefits are the best ever offered.

Although many may seem to take some extended vacations and leaves of absence, and others moonlight in other occupations, God’s patience is exceeded only by His love. He is patiently waiting for us to come back to work and “be about our Father’s business.”

Father, may I never file an unemployment claim against You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Read Hebrews 13, Psalm 16
Getting Carried Away

“He personally carried away our sins in His own body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. You have been healed by his wounds!” 1 Peter 2:24 NLT

It’s easy to get carried away at times. Eve got carried away by the temptations of the serpent. We often get carried away by our trivial pursuits that afford no lasting satisfaction or value. Read the rest of this entry »

Read John 8, Psalm 16
Believe What You Know!

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see Him for myself. Yes, I will see Him with my own eyes.” Job 19:25-27 NLT

Someone once said, “If you don’t know what you stand for, you’re liable to fall for anything.” If your faith is not backed by knowing the inerrant truth of God’s Word, it is very easy to fall prey to the wolves in sheep’s clothing who seek to mislead with false or half-truths that attempt to rob you of your joy and cause you to doubt your salvation in Christ.

As you believe more of what you know an amazing thing happens. You also begin to know who you believe better and can say with Paul, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (1 Timothy 1:12b).

We often become penitent and receive Christ as our Savior long before we become proficient in our knowledge of Him. The essence of our new life in Christ is to get to know Him better, day by day, week by week, and year by year so that we might grow into His fullness.

We do this by abiding in Him through His Word, prayer, and through fellowship with other believers.

As we get to know Jesus better, we learn to see Him more in the lives of other people through circumstances and by experiencing His love, His grace, and especially His peace more and more.

There is no greater joy than knowing Christ in His fullness as we grow in Him.

Father, thank You for working belief in my heart by the power of Your Spirit. Help me to know what I know and what I believe more everyday. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Read Romans 8:1-20, Psalm 16
The Double Standard

Are you living a double life?

“The LORD despises double standards of every kind.” Proverbs 20:10 NLT

May we all cut through the double talk and double standards of the world and believe that Jesus is the only way, truth, and life.

Although the playing field of life continues to become more level, we are still a world of double standards. Read the rest of this entry »