Prospering in your prison

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1

1still_waters

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#1
#1
Gen 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:
20 Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.
But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Exodus 1: 7 but the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

Exodus 1: 12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread;
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God is a God who delivers his people from their prisons. But before a deliverance comes, there may be a delay. During that delay time, I'm convinced the Bible teaches that the people of God can prosper in the midst of their figurative 'prison'. (I'm not talking about some shallow get rich prosperity found in shallow American theology.)

Joseph was sold into slavery, yet we're told the Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. Later Joseph was thrown in to prison and we're told the Lord was with Joseph right in prison and gave him success. Later we read about Israel in captivity in Egypt and once again we're told they were fruitful and multiplied.

Do you find yourself in a figurative prison today? Be assured of this, God is with you. Now is not a time to shrink back because you're not where you want to be at. I doubt Joseph wanted to be in slavery and in prison, yet he found something to do and went at it.

Your deliverance may come on this side of eternity or it may come on the other side, but one thing stands as true, God is with you in your situation. He wants you to set you mind and hands to something and prosper in it.

God didn't forget Joseph and he hasn't forgotten you. Your prison may be lasting years, but be assured of this, the ONE who exceeds years is right there with you. Find something to do for God and he will help you in it.
 
B

Baptistrw

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#2
#2
Amen. Good challenge.
 
O

oneholyfire

Guest
#3
#3
I have spent the last two years in my own prison of sorts. I have wept and prayed and spent many, long hours begging the Lord to deliver me out of the situation I was in. Often times I felt that relief would never come. I went through times of anger, bitterness, despair and grief, but even in my darkest hour, I was always conscience of God's powerful presence. He has shown me many spiritual truths during this time that I would not have otherwise learned. I have learned a dependancy and a trust in Him that has surpassed anything I could ever imagine. He taught me the meaning of "breakthrough"- that God doesn't pluck us out of our circumstances, but gives us grace, peace, and strength to get through to the other side. He has taught me about patient endurance, and the willingness to wait so that His divine and eternal purposes would prevail. He has taught me to live in peace, even in the midst of trial and disappointment and uncertainty. And He has taught me a profound gratitude toward the God that I serve, for He did not leave me in the place where He found me, but instead, He had mercy on me and transformed me and changed my life forever. I would never want to relive that time, but I will never forget it either, because I am no longer the same. I'm a shadow of my former self - a new and improved version !

Has He delivered me out of my trial? Have I seen the end? No I have not. But each day the light grows brighter and brighter and I wait with expectation for the day when my prayers will be answered. A fellow Christian once wrote, "We are not diminished in our waiting. But each day we grow larger and larger with expectation." It is like a delivery, and one day the will of God will give birth to a miracle !! But it is in His timing, not ours.

I have been a Christian nearly all my life, but nothing could have prepared me for what has taken place in the last two years of my life. I have experienced my greatest heartache, and my greatest victory all at the same time. Do we find sometimes find ourselves in our own prison. YES, but God is our deliverer and He IS mighty to save !!!
 
O

oneholyfire

Guest
#4
#4
Beyond every prison, there is a palace, and a promise.
 
N

NazariteNation

Guest
#5
#5
oneholyfire said:
I have spent the last two years in my own prison of sorts. I have wept and prayed and spent many, long hours begging the Lord to deliver me out of the situation I was in. Often times I felt that relief would never come. I went through times of anger, bitterness, despair and grief, but even in my darkest hour, I was always conscience of God's powerful presence. He has shown me many spiritual truths during this time that I would not have otherwise learned. I have learned a dependancy and a trust in Him that has surpassed anything I could ever imagine. He taught me the meaning of "breakthrough"- that God doesn't pluck us out of our circumstances, but gives us grace, peace, and strength to get through to the other side. He has taught me about patient endurance, and the willingness to wait so that His divine and eternal purposes would prevail. He has taught me to live in peace, even in the midst of trial and disappointment and uncertainty. And He has taught me a profound gratitude toward the God that I serve, for He did not leave me in the place where He found me, but instead, He had mercy on me and transformed me and changed my life forever. I would never want to relive that time, but I will never forget it either, because I am no longer the same. I'm a shadow of my former self - a new and improved version !

Has He delivered me out of my trial? Have I seen the end? No I have not. But each day the light grows brighter and brighter and I wait with expectation for the day when my prayers will be answered. A fellow Christian once wrote, "We are not diminished in our waiting. But each day we grow larger and larger with expectation." It is like a delivery, and one day the will of God will give birth to a miracle !! But it is in His timing, not ours.

I have been a Christian nearly all my life, but nothing could have prepared me for what has taken place in the last two years of my life. I have experienced my greatest heartache, and my greatest victory all at the same time. Do we find sometimes find ourselves in our own prison. YES, but God is our deliverer and He IS mighty to save !!!
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Amen Still & OneHolyfire!

I have faced more than one struggle since turning my life over to the Lord. In the hope that some one may find comfort, I don't mind publically admitting that the most prevalent has been loneliness and, as a side effect, lust also. I truly believe that the Lord allows us to face these struggles (at least for a time) so that we will learn "it is not by our might or power that we shall overcome but by His Spirit." And that if we are deligent and aggressively seek the Lord (in prayer, meditation on the word, & fasting) concerning whatever it is we are facing then patiently wait on the Lord to answer, He will faithfully do so in His own timing. I am living proof of that. Praise God!

It has been a while now since I last gave in to thoughts of loneliness / lust however that doesn't mean that the enemy hasn't stopped trying to tempt me. In fact, the temptations have actually become more intense and more frequent. The difference is that, just like a sword, it takes both time and intense heat to temper and mold the sword into one of the uptmost quality and strength.
 
K

Kyra

Guest
#6
#6
Still did you take this from In Touch ministries? : P Seriously, great post, hits close to home, thank you for posting it.
 
1

1still_waters

Guest
#7
#7
Kyra said:
Still did you take this from In Touch ministries? : P Seriously, great post, hits close to home, thank you for posting it.
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lol no;) wrote it all by myself:p
 
C

cornerstone

Guest
#8
#8
When the Lord promises delivery, and beauty for ashes, why do we often choose to remain in our prison? How is it reinforcing? Do we fail to heed the directive, forgetting those things that are behind, as Paul directed to move forward. Many women, in particular, choose to remain in drama because it is somehow reinforcing: gets attention, does not require accountability to move out of it. Often we choose to remain in desolation while in reality Christ has freed us from prison, the prison door is open, but we don't walk through. Many women in scripture never recovered from their desolation: Dina, Tamar, who remained in her desolation, enabled by her brother Amnon. Sometimes we choose our enablers poorly, rather than choose a mentor who expects movement out of desolation, we choose those who help us remain in the drama. Women are good at this. The Lord promised a way of escape....if we only look to Him."beauty for ashes..... Isaiah..."
 
pickles

pickles

Senior Member
#9
Apr 20, 2009
14,479
182
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#9
I like this post. For a while my prison was my health and the pain I lived with. I am so greatful that my life belongs to Jesus. Over time it became a gift as I came to see that the prison is in your mind. In faith I came to know that there are no limits if the Spirit of the Lord is alive in you. Because in his spirit I soar.. all is possible despite what is in your life. Not only have I been blessed but many others because as God Our Father said , It is in your weaknesses that I am Glorified. Nothing can stop his goodness . God bless, pickles
 
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