I just received a letter from a woman incarcerated in a Texas prison. It gave me chills as she testified to the power of memorizing God’s Word. I’m abbreviating her story for you and withholding her name.
Dear Ms Pope,
I grew up as a preacher’s kid in a good home. I went to Baylor University fresh out of high school and began partying, drinking, pills and boys. I’ve spent the last 15 years battling my demons.
I met you last July when you came and spoke to us. It changed the tone of my incarceration and gave me such a desire for future ministry. God changed me through you. When I heard you recite so passionately the words of 2 Timothy it was amazing. I knew that moment that I wanted to memorize God’s Word. I gathered up some accountability partners and we each picked a different passage to memorize. There are 5 of us now. Since July, I’ve memorized Psalm 1, 23, 100, 1 Corinthians 13, Sermon on the Mount, and I’m now on James chapter 2.
Every morning as I prepare for the day I recite Scripture. God’s Word gives insight into His attributes, proves prophecy, keeps us from sinning, gives guidance and gives us peace.
I now have a new bunkie and I am teaching her God’s Word.
There are things here I have no choice in. I have to get in the line every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for clean clothes. I can’t leave the line just because it’s slow. People are complaining and cussing, guards are screaming, and the mosquitoes are snacking on me. So what do I do? I recite 1 Corinthians 13.
You taught me something important. We are not memorizing just to be memorizing. We are getting closer to God through His very own Word! All I’m seeking is a closer relationship with God for he says, “If you draw near to Me, I will draw near to you.” James 4:8
You had no idea what our meeting has done in my life. I doubt you will ever know the impact. It was God’s divine intervention. I am returning to Dallas when I am released. I believe God wants me to write a book. I have already written many things, and some Bible correspondence studies. My life is going to be about sharing God’s Word like you do. I can’t thank you enough.
I’m turning the “Jail House Blues” into “Jail House Rock.” I am the happiest person in here!
[All of your comments I will send to this dear sister, so please let’s encourage her to keep persevering and growing.]
Praise The Lord!! True Freedom is found only in The Lord Jesus who is the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us! Lots of folk out of prison who are behind their own prison bars and here’s a testimony of True Freedom in Christ behind bars. Paul had joy in The Lord behind bars. Jesus sets the captives free, free indeed! What a blessing in The Lord you & Janet are to all who know you behind those prison bars and to all of us on the outside! Keep on keepin on with your eyes set on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! With love in Christ & prayer, Sister Chris
Chris, You are one of many who faithfully plowed the field in Dawson, week after week, year after year. You invited me and I got to see the fruit of your perseverance. One plants, one waters, but God gets the glory for the harvest. Praise God that we got to be a part of His work.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Awesome story about the power of God’s Word and a changed life.
What a wonderful start to my day! Im praying that the relationship she seeks and Ministry she desires be blessed abundantly. Many great things DID and apparently still DO come out of Dawson. Blessings on your journey.
Thank you dear sister in Christ for sharing your story. What tremendous encouragement to hear how God’s Word has transformed your life. I know in my own life that memorizing Scripture has changed me in ways I didn’t think possible and I praise God for giving us such a wonderful way to get to know Him better and be changed to be more like our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Please know I will be praying for you.
Dear sister in Christ,your story is so encouraging. Thank you for taking the time to write. I love that you are allowing God to use this time in your life to be the woman he has created you to be. I will pray for you that you keep strong in the Lord and the power of His might.Thank you so much for sharing your story.
What a great story! I love that you had such an impact on her of course, but the fact that she is sharing her newfound hope in The Lord with others is priceless! You just never know how God uses us to further His kingdom. She IS His Rock in that jail house!
What a great testimony of how the very seeds sown by God’s people take root. I too was in Dawson and dug into Gods glorious riches in the LIVING WORD. Bless you sweet sister in Christ. HE DOES HAVE A CALL ON U. YOU ARE A LIGHT SHINING I N A DARK PLACE. IN HIS LOVE, JODI PUENTE
Sweet sister in Christ, thank you for sharing your story. Praise the Lord that His Word transforms us! He transforms us right where we are. I love how the Lord can take a situation (like lining up for clean clothes) and make it into a time of communing with Him! May the Lord Jesus Himself continue to bless you and give you great fruitfulness and boldness. Love in Christ, Shari
What an incredible story of transformation through the power of God’s word! So proud of you for digging in to his word for yourself and teaching it to others. Just as God used Janet in your life, he will use you to reach others. Press on, my friend, and keep shining your light!
Thank you for your encouraging story you are a great encouragement that even in prison you can memorize scripture and share the gospel that saves with your fellow inmates.
Those who are incarcerated do not use their time wisely. I was blessed while at Dawson I was a member of Texas Hope Literacy, which is a faith based education program. If it was not for my mentor Chris Gray and other volunteers I would not have made it through. My faith continues to grow today. If it was not for my time of incarceration I would not have a relationship with our Lord and Savior. May God bless you and keep you.
What a beautiful testimony. Someday our freedom may be gone in this world and if our Bibles are taken away, the Word will be written in our hearts and minds. No one can take that away from you…EVER!
“Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jer 23:29). And able to break us and set us free to be bound to Christ, who sets the captives free and gives food to the hungry? God bless you, dear sister! Your spiritual hunger for Christ, our true bread, encourages me greatly.
Thank you for sharing your precious testimony. What a blessing that our God is with us in every moment of our lives. Having His Word in our hearts and minds takes the focus off of our circumstances and enables us to give Him glory. May His Word continue to grow in you and all of us. Blessings to you.
Dear sister in Christ,
Thank you for your testimony of a life surrendered to Jesus and transformed by His grace. Our Bible memory group meets tomorrow, Saturday, and my sister, we will be praying for you and your ministry in prison, sharing Jesus, that others too may have the Joy in Jesus that you have. Our group is studying the Letter to the Philippians, the book of Joy, and memorizing parts.
God bless you, and again thanks for sharing!
In Him is Joy, John 15:11
Maureen
I am rejoicing in the Lord over this post! Thank you, sister, for writing the letter and thank you, Janet, for posting!
I minister to women in our local jail and I have shared with them my scripture memorization but because our time is so limited I haven’t actually recited to them. This post just changed my view on that. Next Sunday, I’ll be reciting some scripture to them and over them and I’m going to print out this page and mail it to each girl so she can have it to keep for encouragement.
Oh, what a joy to have this blog where we can connect through the internet on such a profound and eternal way. God bless you, sister in prison, and know that you are being prayed for!
POWERful story. One I will not forget. I love your beautiful heart for God, His word, for others, and your JOY in the Lord. You inspire. God is already doing great things through you. Be encouraged as you have encouraged so many others.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I plan to send a copy of it to my cousin who is in prison and will be praying that the Lord uses it to inspire him to hide God’s word in his heart. I will pray for you tonight to remain strong in the Lord as you finish your time there and move into the next season of ministry that the Lord has for you.
Dear Sister in Christ
Wow, What a great story, it has been very inspiring to learn about your desire to hide God’s word in your heart and to hear about the ministry that God has blessed you with. I pray that these words written by the Apostle Paul in Rom.15:4 & Rom.15:13 will be a comfort to you as they have been to me.That the Bible will teach you to endure and encourage you in the scripture to have hope. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in the believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. And continue to serve God and bring glory to his name as you hide his word in your heart.
Your story is quite inspiring! It shows that God can, and will, use us wherever we are. As Paul put it, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of. I wish you the best in your future endeavors and prayed for you.
~Carmen
What a wonderful challenge to us all. Thank you.
Thank you to everyone who posted comments for our incarcerated sister. I have put them all in an envelope and addressed it to her. I can only assume that this will be one of her most joyful days as she receives comments from all of us. Thank you for taking the time to encouraging her in the Lord.