Thursday, April 26, 2018

From Prison to Palace


Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Interesting, isn’t it; that a person without leverages can suddenly hit limelight, fame, wealth, power and honor? Beloved, the ways of God are past finding out for He is the only One Who can take anyone from obscurity to limelight  and from any prison whatsoever to the palace.
Though there are a number of stories about people who rose from the confinements of prison to palaces, the biblical Joseph best illustrates that story. Though Joseph was a slave in Egypt, Joseph treasured his assets, guarding them jealously and trading them for what could take him out of obscurity into limelight. Joseph’s assets include talent, knowledge resources, godly wisdom, expertise, fervent relationship with God, divine wisdom, fear of God, honesty, integrity, focus.

Daniel’s assets include integrity, honesty, fear of God.  Though the Biblical Daniel was not physically imprisoned, he alongside his three friends and all the wise men of Babylon were on death row and were being handpicked daily; from the privacy and luxury of their homes for execution. This was as good as being imprisoned; untimely death with every potential for blessing humanity locked up in early death. Daniel was very young then, full of life and great dreams for a long flourishing life of service to God and humanity as well as the attendant benefits of comfort and wealth. He therefore refused to die young and unfulfilled because he knew that the will of God for him was to live long. Please see Psalm 91. He therefore boldly and courageously requested for time to unravel the King’s dream. God granted Daniel favor and further emboldened, Daniel called for an emergency prayer meeting to request help from God so that their lives would be spared. God again showed up and the secret was made known to Daniel. Their lives alongside the lives of the wise men were spared. But significantly, Daniel and his friends moved from the imprisonment of death row to significant positions in the palace and in the administration of affairs in the kingdom of Babylon. Please read Daniel Chapter 2 for details of the story as well as greater insight from the Holy Spirit.

As if this was not enough, Daniel’s life was further threatened but again God intervened and Daniel rose from the prison of the den of lions to the pinnacle of leadership. Please see Daniel Chapter 6. His three friends were also on death row a second time; albeit in the prison of a fiery furnace of fire. But God Who can always be trusted to deliver His own intervened and their lives were not only spared, but the worship of Jehovah, the El-Shaddai God was enthroned in Babylon and they were promoted higher in the administrative affairs of Babylon. Tales of prison to palaces!

A prison whether spiritual, physical or mental, limits a person’s freedom, potentials and deployment of talents, skills and expertise. Jacob as a young man in Laban’s house was strong and energetic, full of ideas and determined to succeed. Jacob was not imprisoned so to speak but the limits Laban put on Jacob through the sharp practices that Laban introduced into every agreement they had indicated that Laban wanted Jacob to remain in his household and employ forever. This is a kind of imprisonment because as long as Jacob remained there, he would not have a home of his own, a business of his own and would not be in full control of his family. The situation appeared uphill and insurmountable; Jacob completely hedged in without an exit anywhere.  But Jacob did not give in. Rather, he came up with creative ways of getting his livestock and leaving Laban’s home to set up his own home, from prison to palace.

Beloved, God can remove any limit put on you by the enemy so that you can get to the palace He designed for you from the foundation of the world. He brought down the walls of Jericho, a barricade against the Israelites so that they would not get to the Promised Land. Beloved, the start point for your great dreams and visions is praise to the only One Who can make you succeed. Therefore, give God quality praise and rejoice PRAISE the LORD of Hosts. You will definitely get to your palace in the mighty name of Jesus. Shalom.


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