"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, as we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor. 10:5
The other night my husband and I stumbled across a program on television that was chronicling the stories of people who have been held as prisoners in another country. This program was specifically recounting the stories of John McCain and Ernie Brace and their horrific days of imprisonment during the Vietnam War.
Oh, it was just devastating what those men (and all other POW's) endured at the hand of their captors and out of their uncompromising allegiance to our country. Probably the most horrific part of the program was when Ernie Brace was telling of the time he tried to escape from the "cage" that he had been imprisoned in and was caught by his ruthless guards. His punishment was to be buried in a pit while standing straight up leaving only his head above the ground. He was left buried there for seven whole days. He stated that he couldn't even feel his body whenever he was removed from the pit. He couldn't walk and this paralysis lasted for quite some time. Just recapping his story in this brief nature makes my insides cringe at the horror he suffered as the longest held civilian POW during the Vietnam War. His brutal imprisonment lasted seven years and ten months.
As horrific as Ernie Brace's story is, I know many people who live everyday of their lives in a virtual prison. They are held captive by something in their past, or perhaps by a fear that has never even played out yet. They can be likened to a prisoner who is bound and lacking freedom. They have been granted freedom, yet have never been able to experience it.
Do you know someone or can you personally relate to any of these imprisonments:
These prisons that you or a loved one are trapped in can prohibit you from fully functioning to your God-given potential. The circumstances of the past that have you held captive will prevent you from living the life God desires for you to live.
Thankfully, we've been offered an opportunity to be released from our prison. Christ quoted prophecy from Isaiah while teaching in his hometown of Nazareth one day and said this:
The other night my husband and I stumbled across a program on television that was chronicling the stories of people who have been held as prisoners in another country. This program was specifically recounting the stories of John McCain and Ernie Brace and their horrific days of imprisonment during the Vietnam War.
Oh, it was just devastating what those men (and all other POW's) endured at the hand of their captors and out of their uncompromising allegiance to our country. Probably the most horrific part of the program was when Ernie Brace was telling of the time he tried to escape from the "cage" that he had been imprisoned in and was caught by his ruthless guards. His punishment was to be buried in a pit while standing straight up leaving only his head above the ground. He was left buried there for seven whole days. He stated that he couldn't even feel his body whenever he was removed from the pit. He couldn't walk and this paralysis lasted for quite some time. Just recapping his story in this brief nature makes my insides cringe at the horror he suffered as the longest held civilian POW during the Vietnam War. His brutal imprisonment lasted seven years and ten months.
As horrific as Ernie Brace's story is, I know many people who live everyday of their lives in a virtual prison. They are held captive by something in their past, or perhaps by a fear that has never even played out yet. They can be likened to a prisoner who is bound and lacking freedom. They have been granted freedom, yet have never been able to experience it.
Do you know someone or can you personally relate to any of these imprisonments:
- Lack of trust due to being a victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in the past
- Despair from the untimely death of a loved one
- Poor self-esteem and self-worth from growing up in a home devoid of love and affirmation
- Fear of abandonment due to a parent or spouse walking out on you
- Anger from years of barely getting by financially
- Guilt from personal unforgiveness of past sins
- Debilitating anxiety from the fear of something tragic happening to your children
These prisons that you or a loved one are trapped in can prohibit you from fully functioning to your God-given potential. The circumstances of the past that have you held captive will prevent you from living the life God desires for you to live.
Thankfully, we've been offered an opportunity to be released from our prison. Christ quoted prophecy from Isaiah while teaching in his hometown of Nazareth one day and said this:
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has annointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
And recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:18-19
Jesus came to not just offer salvation through the freedom from our sin, but also freedom from the guilt of our sin or the sins of others that has so heavily affected us. If you feel as if you are having to live with the consequences of someone else's sin everyday of your life, Christ wants to free you from that prison!
The prophecy that Christ quoted from Isaiah was that the nation of Judah was going to be taken captive in the near future, but their captivity was not going to last forever. They would receive their freedom once again and they would actually come out stronger in the end. Because Jesus didn't fully quote the passage from Isaiah, I want you to hear what the prophet promises to those who are freed from their prison:
"To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."
Isaiah 61:3
If you or someone you love have allowed yourself to become imprisoned in your own mind, my God wants to offer you a crown of beauty today. He wants to annoint you with oil and give you a spirit of praise that only comes from Him. He wants you to march away from your prison with the strength of a renewed spirit that will display His glory.
If you've never fully experienced freedom from the sin in your own life through the salvation offered through Christ, I pray that you would make today the day of salvation in your life. Seek out a pastor or Christian friend or family member that can help you begin your journey with Christ. I would love to have the privilege of sharing Christ with you if you don't have a personal friend that could guide you to Him.
If you are a believer, yet are held captive in your mind to circumstances of the past, let Christ give you the gift of complete freedom. As our key verse said today, let the thoughts of your past become obedient to Christ. Allow Him to truly reign as Lord over every aspect of your life.
As Ernie Brace and John McCain must have felt immense joy whenever they were able to find themselves on the other side of the prison walls, I hope you are able to experience that same uncontainable joy. God Himself is proclaiming freedom over your life today!
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