Prisoner of the Past

I visited a man in Prison today who showed me another perspective of the meaning of words like Faith, Hope, Dream, and Humility… I was pleasantly refreshed to hear someone place emphasis more on their walk with God than their present circumstances. After over 3 years behind bars, my friend has every opportunity the lash out, blame God, withdraw and fall in with the “regular” crowd he’s surrounded by every day. During the hour and a half that we talked I found myself wishing to know more people with such an optimistic and “faith” filled attitude.

I was reminded of Joseph and David, as well as other biblical heroes that overcame the overwhelming temptation to fall into the deep chasm of BLAME, JUSTIFICATION, PITY, and other similar attitudes. Whether we are innocent or guilty, sometimes “fault” is not the question…

Joseph was a dreamer naive to the concept of discretion… his only fault was that he expressed his dreams in what he thought was a “safe” environment. David was a psalm singer and sheep sorter… his only fault was recognizing when things were not in order - “Who is this Philistine… defying the armies of the Living God?” To which he was accused of pride, and in the hilarious words of his brother, a “naughty” heart!(Typical older brother stuff huh?) Pride and naughtiness aside, David recognized that things were not in order and persisted until he was given the chance to set it right… to which he was rewarded by years of life lived on the lam… If ever a person had the right to cast blame and point fingers, Joseph and David probably hold first dibs on the index and the thumb…

Seriously though, most people don’t recognize David as a cave dwelling criminal, scrounging around the countryside for a safe place to sleep and a bite to eat… David is King, Giant Killer, Psalm Writer, and Worshiper! Joseph is not memorialized as a victim convict, two-time loser who was spared by the meager mercies of only one brother… No, he’s a savior, an Egyptian Aristocrat, and a shrewd bargainer whose keen intellect saved many nations from starvation.
We all have reasons to complain at times. We all have failures and burdens and storms and hurts… I would not venture to be the judge of who’s got a right to rant or a reason for rage; but I will say this… Nothing negative nurtures is a necessity! Lose that negative spirit and attitude. There is nothing to be gained from it… For Joseph, David, and my imprisoned friend, it is attitude that defines our destiny… and by the way; attitude is not a "prison issue" accessory; it’s our choice to have a good one!
James M. Barrie (best remembered for creating Peter Pan) once said: “We are all failures; at least all the best of us are.” There you have it. Romans 3:23 “All have sinned; and come short of the glory of God.” Read the scripture following this famous verse…
God has made provision for that prison called past… he has plans for your present. Walk in it… Escape into his purpose.

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