101 Devotionals for Boys #58

 101 Devotionals for Boys from the Lives of Great Christians and 101 Devotionals for Girls from the Lives of Great Christians will both be published in 2017. We’re publishing one or two devotionals a week to give you a taste of what you’ll get in those two gift books. This one  is based on a story from Lights in a Dark Place: True Stories of God at Work in Colombia (Hidden Heroes #5).

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When Russell Stendal was first taken prisoner, he struggled with wanting to get free. Should I try to escape? Please rescue me, God! Every night in his hammock when the flashlight flashed in his face, he felt fear.

But as time passed, he began to feel a heart of compassion for his kidnappers.

When Russell’s family sent him a Bible, he began to mediate on a psalm every day. He even read the Bible out loud.

As the weeks turned to months, Russell prayed more and more, for his kidnapers to find true freedom in Jesus Christ, to be released from their captivity. Every night he prayed for hours.

Russell was focusing his heart on the Father.  He had no way to know that God was going to use this kidnaping experience in an awesome way in the future,  but he was patiently trusting God and waiting for Him to work in His time.

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” ~Philippians 1:9-11

Thank You, Lord, that You give opportunities even in hard times for us to focus on You. Help me to trust You in my hard times to see You do Your work.

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