Faith - God's GPS

And we're back from Thanksgiving break.  Hope you all had a good holiday!  Today we have some more words from Cumberland County Prison...

Inmate Insights from "Donnie"

Above all things, Jesus should be our main focus, even during the storm of life when trials come our
way. The book of Matthew chapter 14 illustrates a complete understanding of when Jesus walked on
water and one of his disciples, Peter, was bold and stepped out on faith despite the raging storms that
surrounded him. Jesus gave peter basic instructions to keep his focus on him, but as he continued he
took his eye off of Jesus and began worrying about the water under him as well as the storm and began
to sink. As he began to sink he cried out to Jesus “save me” and Jesus saved him. Jesus then asked
Peter, “Why do you doubt and have little faith?”

In clear understanding this story represents the trails of life of a believer when things try and get in the
way or distract us from following Jesus but we must endure and always remember who he is and what
he can do for us in our everyday life if we walk accordingly to his specific instructions that he gives us
through the Bible.

One thing that prevents us as believers is the temptation of Satan and his evil angels. They want to
pervert the word of God through lack of knowledge and understanding. Our flesh is attracted to things
that aren’t of God and can lead us down the wrong broad path to eternal damnation. Jesus gives us a
way out in every aspect to resist the temptation by the renewing of your mind found in Romans 12:2.
We must resist the old self once made a new creation through baptism of the Holy Spirit, so that it
becomes our guideline, or guidance to be more like Christ and to no longer be conformed to this worldly
way of living out life.

The Holy Spirit interacts as a navigational system found in motor vehicles, trucks, etc. towards God but as we veer off the pathway of righteousness, God gives us an alternate route, but it still leads us to salvation through disappointments as well as trials to eventually get the hand of it. We then began to understand what road or things will lead us to our destination (Christ) or to take another route which will get you lost, and without the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you life’s temptations will leave you lost fulfilling nothing other than things of the flesh that will eventually pass away. So put God first above all things and let the Holy Spirit direct your path.

I once heard a story of a guy, while incarcerated, who encountered negative feedback from people
2 months before his release date. He wondered why, but little did he know Satan seen that God was
about to use this man later on in life through Prison Ministry and as a ex-con, how you would listen more
to people who have endured the same pain as you behind bars. Today, let God use you through your
rough experiences in life to bring more backsliders or non believers back to Christ through being an
example of trusting Jesus to give Glory to God.


--
grace, peace + hope-Jesse