Spiritual Survival Guide
6: Keeping It Going: Moving Beyond Survival Mode
life. People who place real value on peace, health, and helping others. When I hang with people who really want to do the right thing, it makes living right a reality, not just something I’ve read about. What I’m constantly reminded of is that this change towards wanting a better life is really a commitment to myself and to God. It doesn’t matter what the guys on my wing think. It matters what I think. I’m the one who has to live with me. Also, I need to remember that all this is going to take time. With some issues, it’s going to take years of retraining my thought-process to see life differently. I can’t get discouraged to the point where I want to give up. God works through people, and when I hang with peo- ple who are on the right path, all sorts of doors begin to open.
“Have faith in God. Have patience and never give up. Just stay focused on the Lord. He knows you want to go home. Just study his Word so that you’re ready when you go home.” “If you’re surrounded by spiritual people, you’ll be a spiritual person. If you’re surrounded by negative people, you’ll be nega- tive. Whatever you’re surrounded by is normal to you. If you get your head right, you won’t falter.”
“Fellowship is important. Don’t force your burden on others.”
“Think about what’s happened in the penitentiary in the past; there’s lots of evil, lots of spiritual warfare in this place.The pen- itentiary mentality is depressed and angry. Watch the conduct of people before you trust them. Example is important. People aren’t perfect; but are they willing to change?”
“You need to do what’s best for yourself. It’s life and death now.”
Inmates Share a Month’s Worth of Spiritual Advice
“What’s phony is easy to notice. When a person’s heart is not in it, you’re not going to see change. We’re not going to be able to use God to get out, but God is going to cultivate the gifts he wants to call out in us.” “I’ve got all the time in the world to get two things straight: to get to know who I really am, and to get to know my Maker. So, who are you? I’m not asking what you did or what you do. You’ve got this X on your back now; but it’s not the end of the world. Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, the apostle Paul—all were prisoners who accomplished great things. Every man’s drama is his drama.The story of Joseph is beautiful for people in prison—especially those who are falsely accused. Don’t get lost in “why” you’re here; focus on “while” you’re here. Even though you’re doing time, it’s not wasted time. God has inside men.”
In addition to those great little daily devotional guides that the prison volunteers bring around (like Our Daily Bread ), we thought you might appreciate 31 daily slices of spiritual advice served up by your fellow inmates. We hope you find them helpful.
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