Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].--I Thess. 5:23, AMPC

You Don't Have to Go to Jail

Having a "jail ministry" can be as simple as writing a card or letter, and sending it via those who minister to the incarcerated, so that your personal information is not included, but the message the LORD has for those precious ones is delivered!  

Doing the will of the LORD--even if it seems "small" or doesn't make sense, can bring satisfaction that nothing else on earth can bring! 

While not many are called to personally go into the jails (I considered it years ago, but the LORD showed me that was not part of my Assignment.), I was recently urged by my pastor's wife to do it, and that witnessed with my spirit; that seemed right in my heart. 

But for the Grace of God, there go we; there go I! A few decades ago, there were probably at least a couple of times I could have been caught and put in jail, mostly by association with people who said they were Believers, but were definitely doing things against God!

Thank God for His great mercy and faithfulness, that that He sees the end from the beginning.

[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me. 10 Declaring the end and  the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose,--Isaiah 46:9-10, AMPC

God Works All Things Together For Our Best and His Glory!

He truly works all things the enemy causes for our best and His glory, because we love Him and are the called.

As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day.--Genesis 50:20

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.---Romans 8:28!

Hallelujah!

Overcoming Negative Emotions

After all, we all have experienced loneliness, self-doubt, and other negative emotions--most of all the fear that God and others don't love us, or even that we are unlovable. 

All of those thoughts and wrong emotions come from the pit of hell.  Many times, they have deep roots, and it requires the healing and delivering power of the LORD for people to be truly free of these things, but every "drop" of Love from God is working freedom for the captives! Halellujah!

By sending a very economical card or letter, and taking just a few minutes of the time God gives us (and He gives us every breath!), we can bring hope, courage, joy, and motivation in these prisoners, to follow the Light of Christ and renounce the darkness! 

Hallelulujah!

Let the LORD Change Your Thinking, and You'll Be Blessed!

So, in obedience to the exhortation of the LORD through my pastor's wife (a prophesy in front of many), I shopped for notecards to send. For just a dollar or so, I got a package of eight cards. Most were "thank you" cards, but, I reasoned, I needed blank cards, and it would be inappropriate to send a "thank you" card to a prisoner.

Then the LORD revealed to me that my thinking was wrong; that "thank you" cards would be appropriate--for (almost, at least) every person on the planet has (with His help, for by His Spirit in us and with us is the only way we can do anything good!) done some good.

"Thieves don't lie" is an old saying that means that, no matter the sin or errors in a person's life, there usually is (because God Who is all good created us and gives us every breath!) at least some good. 

Don't get me wrong. The level of depravity by a demonically-controlled human almost cannot be measured. I am not making excuses for anyone's sin or abominations!

We Must Have Jesus and Help Others Know Him!

We must remember that, without Jesus Christ to save and cleanse and heal and deliver and restore us, we are all very lost, depraved humans! 

I said in my heart regarding the subject of the sons of men, God is trying (separating and sifting) them, that they may see that by themselves [under the sun, without God] they are but like beasts.j---Ecclesiastes 3:8, AMPC

[Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.--Ephesians 2:12, AMPC

Love is Always Working to Help Others

However, God is Love (I John 4:8), and He will help us learn to walk in Love, and yield to His Love.  Love is never glad at evil, but He (Jesus, Who is ultimate, agape, eternal Love!) helps us overcome evil with Himself. He works through us to help others know His love, and to choose to overcome evil by repenting and learning His ways!

We all want more Love, right? We were made for it--and to show and share it!

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.  7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].--I Corinthians 13:6-7, AMPC

So, what the LORD showed me was that, it would be a form of His Love to  send "thank you" cards (and inscribe the blank ones with words of encouragement, including thanksgiving for their lives); it would be believing the best, and helping them be affirmed, and to look to the future. It would bring them courage and hope (which was part of the prophesy to me by my pastor's wife).

You don't need a prophesy, although this writing is meant to inspire and provoke you to good works--as the Word tells us to do for one another, in Hebrews 10:24-25 (AMPC):

24 And let us consider and give [attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, 25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.

God's Love is His Goodness That Leads Us to Live Right!

It is God's goodness that leads us to repentance!

4 Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?--Romans 2:4, AMPC

So by simply saying something like this below (The LORD will guide you!), you can show the Love of God, and help those in jail see more of the the true Light of God; His unconditional Love, that insists on viewing us only in a positive way:

"Thank you for the good you have done in your life--and, by the help of the Spirit of God, you have done good things!

Ask the LORD, the One Who created you, sees you, loves you, and knows you by name, to reveal Himself to you, and to show you the marvelous Plan He has for your life! He will!

Every human on the planet is born into sin and has done wrong. We are all lost with the help of Jesus Christ, the perfect Son of God, Who shed His pure blood on the cross for us all, over 2,000 years ago, so we can escape hell and go to Heaven when our bodies die! But we have to choose Him, and ask Him to save us!

As the Word of God says in Romans (3:23; 6:23; 10:13, AMPC): "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and  eceives....For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.... "For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved."

All you have to do is choose Jesus, ask Him to forgive and save you, and He will! He is very close, and ready to help you! He will wash the bad away and become your Savior and Best Friend Forever, and will be with you forever to help you live the good life He has for you!" 

You Can Start Your Jail Ministry Today and Make An Eternal Difference!

So, for a few bucks and a few minutes (all of which the LORD gives us!), you can have a simple, easy, and very effective jail ministry.

You can make an eternal difference in many lives, which, my friend, is why we are on the planet!  You may wonder how your "little contribution" can really make a difference, but it will. God can do a lot with a little! Hallelujah!

But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch and with many others also continued teaching and proclaiming the good news, the Word of the Lord [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in God’s kingdom].--Acts 15:35, AMPC

The fruit of the [uncompromisingly] righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise captures human lives [for God, as a fisher of men—he gathers and receives them for eternity].--Proverbs 11:30, AMPC

Go for it! God is for you, and He will be with you and help you, every step of the way!

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.