Sharing With Sharon ... Giving You What God Gives Me: Prayer for Prisoners

I woke up Saturday morning and turned on the TV and there was a discussion on some news show about the increasing incarceration rates in US. I didn't pay much attention to it. I showered, got dressed, took my daughter to a friend's house and then went to our local Wal-mart. In the car, I turned on the radio, and there was a representative from Angel Tree: Prison Fellowship telling a story of an inmate who was able to give his son the first Christmas gift that he'd PAID for and not stolen thanks to Angel Tree. I kinda ignored the message the first time, but in the car, in the quietness, I realized that God was trying to show me something very important. This time, I listened. The radio interview began to fade out, but I was able to get the gist. People who are incarcerated need us to show them the love and compassion of Christ.

Since 2002, the United States has had the highest incarceration rate in the world. And sadly, the numbers are not decreasing. If we are honest, incarceration has touched all of our lives in some way, shape or form. We all know a family member or a friend who is in prison. Perhaps someone reading this has been incarcerated yourself. Many incarcerated adults have children who are left behind in the care of the other parent, a friend or family member, or sometimes a complete stranger. I spent some time working as a case worker in the foster care system, and it's often heart breaking to see the damage done to the psyche of a child who feels abandoned and forgotten by a parent.

Yes, I know that the saying is true "If you do the crime, you have to do the time." The law of reciprocity holds true in the natural and in the spiritual. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galations 6:7). However, God shows love, mercy and compassion. Lamentations 3:31-32 reads "For men are not cast off by the Lord forever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love." Yes, many people who are in prison are there because they broke laws and did not obey the rules. But NONE of us is without sin. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23.

During this Christmas season, let us show the love of God in our thoughts, words and deeds. Pray for those who are behind prison walls. Pray that they find salvation. Pray for the various prison ministries around the globe that meet the physical and spiritual needs of prisoners. Make contributions to such ministries if you can. Pray for children with incarcerated parents. Pray that God will guard their minds and keep them sane. Pray that God will build a hedge of protection around them to shield them from the evil and wickedness of abuse. Pray that these children break the cycle and the generational curses and not become inmates themselves. Pray that their parents reach out to them and show them that they are loved and not forgotten and abandoned. Pray that they feel Christ's love for them. This Christmas, give the gift of prayer!

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