Into The Closet To Pray

Into The Closet To Pray

If I could choose one area of ministry, out of all that being a pastor entails, I would choose to be involved in a jail ministry.

Why that and not any of the other countless opportunities to serve when there are so many very rewarding ways to serve God?

First of all, the Bible tells us to go there. I mean, think about the Bible characters that you know. How many of the great men and women of faith were in jail at one time or another? All over the world, throughout history, Christians have been no strangers to the walls of prisons. Knowing this, the author of Hebrews wrote:

Hebrews 13:1-3

"Let love of the brethren continue … Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them."

So, not only are we told to go there but there is something special that happens in a jail cell. Men and women are at the bottom point in their lives in jail and they are looking for answers. “How did my life get to this point? Why is my life falling apart? Is there a God? Has He abandoned me?”

When I go into the jails, it is a thrill to be the one that God has entrusted with preaching the good news to that person. How great it is to walk into a person's life while they are looking for answers and to be able to give them that answer! Jail gives men and women all the time in the world to think, read and pray so that they can work on that new relationship with God.

The word we use to describe a room in a jail is the word cell. Cell comes from the Latin word "coelum.” The literal meaning of coelum is “a place where one goes to enjoy God.”

Now, take that info and look at these words of Jesus with new eyes:

Matthew 6:6

"But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father..."

Special things happen in jails and prisons when the Holy Spirit is at work. Do you pray for those who are incarcerated and for those who work with them? Maybe you should add that to your list and go out of your way to thank someone who does that. They are right where God wants them. Read Matthew 25:34-40.

Acts 5:18

“They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.”