Unseen Prison September 14, 2007
Posted by Han in : Life's Challenge , trackbackAre we facing with any difficulties in our life? At the beginning of each year, we normally would like to lay down all our plans. We got so excited and always, we are determined to execute all our plans. Unfortunately in most cases our determination would only last for the first few months and after that everything would be a history!!!
We tend to get frustrated easily and will eventually lack the strength to continue. Such phenomenon will normally continue for many years until we totally want to give up in making and writing down any of our plans or making New Year resolutions anymore knowing that it will be pointless; after all, we will not execute them.
We feel like we’re a born failure. We hate ourselves so much and often felt frustrated as well since most of the times we end up quitting or giving up. We have no idea what causes it to end up this way and for sure, we will not know how to solve it. Worse thing to happen is to tell ourselves we are good for nothing, worth nothing and will never accomplish anything great! If this is what you are going through, I want to share to you something that will help you be an overcomer. It is all about the unseen prison of life.
Let’s take a look at the physical prison. It is meant to be a place for criminals. They are kept in the 4 walls of the prison cells. Their hands and legs are chained as well. Physically, they won’t be able to go anywhere because they are locked in the prison. They will not be able to do anything as well since they are in the prison. Nowhere to go, unable to accomplish anything in life, practically nothing but only able to count the days, which passes by everyday! Indeed, the consequences are far too great to bear.
Too often, unknowing in life, we live in this unseen prison and we don’t even realise it. There will always be the 4 unseen walls surrounding us. Unfortunately, we will not be able to see them. This makes it more fearful. These unseen walls possess the capability to limit us, restrict us and hinder us from doing great things. This is very frustrating and until we identify them, we definitely will not be able to experience a breakthrough in our life. There are 5 unseen prisons of life:-
1) Negative Mindset
A negative mindset limits our imagination and creativity. All the brilliant ideas, which we have in our minds initially, will be transformed to negative ideas once it is processed through any negative minds. Negative mindset produces impossibility. It tends to focus on self rather than God. The spies that Moses sent out to Canaan land only saw how small they were instead of seeing how big God was. Negative mindset gives up easily and accomplishes nothing!
2) Past failures and setback
Are we still bound by our past failures and setbacks? All our failed examinations, businesses or our marriage. Let the past be passed. Yesterday had passed, today is a new day, look forward to the future. Do not hold tightly on to the past. Do not dwell on it for too long. Release it! Free it! Let go and let God! Let it not hinder us from moving ahead. Do not be afraid to try. Moses went to King Pharoah so many times. Each time he failed but he tried again. Bear in mind, God was with Moses but King Pharoah still refused. God has a purpose, He can use your past failures and setbacks to make a comeback!
3) Tragic and bad experiences
This is something very tough to overcome because of the hurts, scars and experiences which really penetrates deep into our soul. It could be due to addiction, abuses, accidents, robbery, rape, death of a love one or others. Worse still, these tragic and bad experiences can be rehearsed in our mind on and on again. It is so difficult to have it erased from our mind. I can only say that it takes time to heal. It is not easy. It’s a choice to make. We must choose not to dwell in it. And it is by His stripes we were healed. If Jesus chooses to remain in those mocking, beating and whipping which he had to bear then where is the victorious resurrected life? Bear in mind, the nail mark is still on Jesus’ hand!
4) People and their words
Did somebody whether if it is our parents, school teachers or friends ever spoke negatively or insulted on us? You are so stupid, you’re hopeless, you will accomplish little in life or you are such a pain. These are terrible words that really put us down. It is not just merely the words but the tongue which has the power of life and death. These words have the power to bind us and create unbelief in our life. It destroys our confidence level and demoralizes us. With such terrible words, how then are we able to succeed?
5) Past crimes and mistakes
Due to our immaturity and ignorance, we may have committed very serious crimes and ended up in prison. After leaving the prison, we seems to lose the courage of standing up & coming face to face with our love ones, the people around us or the society anymore. Guilt and shame turns our head down! We are afraid of trying again. Nobody is perfect, all of us made mistakes. The important thing here is to learn from our mistakes, stand up, face up and move forward with life. There will be some people who would look down on us but it is alright. Most importantly, we must not look down on ourselves for the rest of our life! We all deserve a second chance!
How to be set free from the unseen prison of life?
I need to be honest with you. It is not just by reading this article and we will be able to be set free from the unseen prisons of life. This article can only help us see the problems and identify the root cause but our life may well be the same without any breakthrough even after reading it.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26
But don’t give up; don’t be sad as hope is in God. I want to refer you to Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas were sent to prison because of casting out a spirit from a girl. But at midnight they prayed and sang and suddenly there was a violent earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison and eventually the prison doors flew open and chains were loosened.
There are 3 things that we can learn here:
1) Paul and Silas prayed to God. They know that their only help is from God. We have to come into realization that nothing or no one could literally help us. Some have tried a lot of times and a lot of ways only to be confronted by failure. The only option left is God Himself. We must depend on Him alone. The sooner we come to God the sooner we can come out from our prisons. Therefore, let’s come before God and acknowledge our inability and recognize God’s ability to set us free.
2) Paul and Silas sang to God. What were they singing? They were singing hymns. Hymns or praise and worship songs are always encouraging. It lifts up the spirit within. It helps us to concentrate and focus on God. They actually sang out aloud and the other prisoners were able to listen. The important thing here is about confession. They confessed in their singing. Start to see ourselves coming out from the prison and start confessing positive words and refrain from negative words.
3) Earthquake was sent after Paul and Silas prayed and sang. We have to seek God and not man for help. When we cry to our God, He will help. The only question is when and we won’t know. It could be immediately or sometime later but God will definitely come and help. When God sends an earthquake, it is able to shake the entire foundation of the prison. We need an earthquake! We need God to shake the foundation of our life. Then, the door of the unseen prison in our life will be opened and the chains of our life loosen. What would this mean? We need God to perform an entire makeover in our life: dying to the old self, renew our mind and cleanse our heart. The old has to pass before the new comes!
Conclusion
Let us start afresh. Do not let any unseen prisons hinder us from living a wonderful life. Like Paul and Silas, pray and sing songs to God. Let our concentration and focus be unto Him alone only. Next, sit down, plan and execute it. Don’t give up but persevere until we see success.
All the Best,
Han
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