Jail
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing” (Psalm 68:5-7)
“May the groans of the prisoners come before you by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.” (Psalm 79:10-12)
“Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” (Psalm 142:7)
“Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (Hebrews 13:2)
Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. (Psalm 107::10-16)
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:7-8)
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Dear Lord God, You are everywhere -- even in prison cells. Please be with _ right now and surround him with your peace and your presence. Help him to believe that the safest place in the world is with You. For the prophet Daniel, the safest place was in a lion’s den. For Paul and Silas, it was a dark jail cell where they sang praise songs and experienced your power in an amazing way. Lord, I pray that _ will grow closer and closer to You during this time of imprisonment. Open his eyes to see You, open his ears to hear your voice, open his heart to receive You and all that You have for him. Give him hope that the best is yet to come. Prepare him to be the man that you have created him to be. Encourage him and comfort him with your Holy Spirit. Use this time in his life to be a blessing in disguise -- a platform for your glory to be displayed. In Jesus’ name, Amen.