Praise Him In Your Prison Cell

This is something I have been trying to make muscle memory recently. Let me explain. Paul wrote some of the most encouraging passages of scripture while sitting in a prison cell, including the books of Colossians, Philippians and Ephesians. Let's take a closer look at some of these passages:

Ephesians 3:14-15

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth

Philippians 3:8

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ...

Ephesians 5:16-17

Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Philippians 3:1

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

Ephesians 3:7

By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News

What do these passages have in common? Their focus. Each passage is focused on the goodness and/or mission of God. Despite his less-than-ideal circumstances, Paul's focus was laser sharp. He knew God was good, and he was praising Him in his prison cell.

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When I think of Paul's attitude compared to my own I start to feel very small and very guilty. I don't say this to try and make anyone else shrink in their seat, I just say it because it's true! For someone who is very much not in prison, it sure is easy for me to find something to complain about. Something I have noticed is the effect this pattern of complaining has on my mental health, and understandably so. If you are only focusing on the negative around you, that is all you will see, and believe me there is no shortage of negative in today's world.

There is contentment to be found in the safety of Christ and His promises (Philippians 4:11-13).

So lets you and I together actively see the goodness of God in all things, despite their glamour or lack thereof. How can we start? Well, let's take a look at our daily routines:

- Instead of complaining I have to wake up early, thank the Lord for another day!

- Instead of saying I hate my job, be grateful He has provided a source of income for you.

- Instead of wishing you had more (more money, more time, more things, the list goes on...), thank God for what He has so graciously provided.

These are areas of my own life that I have noticed need some attention, and I'm sure the same is true for many of you as well.

It may seem silly or trivial, but there is nothing greater than the message of the gospel. Once we refocus our minds to that, our problems start to seem a little smaller and God starts to look a whole lot bigger. Our prison cells can become our prayer rooms if we let them.