Thinking of Easter in Prison
Over the past several days, the Lord has broken my heart while thinking about the importance of Easter and about the blood of Jesus that can cleanse any heart. These thoughts continued as I traveled to the prison this week. I just wanted to weep as I listened to an old song out of our church hymnal … “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.” What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
By Chaplain Betty Standifer
Upon arrival at the prison, I entered the lock-down area. I spoke with a number of women. There were two that I want to tell about. The first one looked so poor and dirty. Her teeth were in bad shape. She had not bothered to wash her hair in some time. We spoke for a long time. Near the end of our conversation, the Lord led me to ask her if she would like to accept Jesus Christ into her heart. She said, “I am a thief!” Then I remembered Jesus dealt with a thief in His last hours. He loved the thief so much that He died for him. Our conversation went on and I asked her once more if she wanted to accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. This time, she said, “Yes, I would like to do that.” She bowed her head and we prayed the sinner’s prayer and she asked Jesus to come into her heart.
At the very next cot, there was a small, beautiful young woman that I talked to. She was young. She said, “I am a prostitute and I am on drugs.” We talked a long time. She was only 22-years-old and had not been in church since she was twelve. She said she had never accepted Jesus into her heart. Then I asked her if she would like to accept Jesus today. She replied, “Yes, I want to accept Jesus right now.” She did not even know how to pray and so I guided her and spoke with her about the meaning and importance of accepting Jesus into her heart. We got on our knees by her cot and prayed again. Praise God – another soul for Christ.
I believe that Jesus two souls in lock-down that day. We must never ever go and talk to people about Christ or preach about Christ without giving an invitation. So many people need to know about Easter and what it means. We need to tell them that the blood of Jesus can wash away any sin. With all my heart, I thank God for His cleansing blood.
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Chaplain Standifer is certified as an endorsed Correctional Chaplain through the Church of God Chaplains Commission. For more information on chaplaincy ministries, visit the Commission’s website at: www.cogchaplains.com
