Reminding each other of the truth

My friend Bubba is a 37-year-old inmate who is incarcerated in a special unit in a Texas prison. He has lost parents, his wife, and a son. He will have nobody waiting for him when he gets out.

Bubba doesn't hold back much. He talks about Jesus to everyone he's locked up with, which sometimes wins people to Christ, and sometimes wins their ire. This suffering is that other little-mentioned blessing "granted to [us] … for the sake of Christ" (Philippians 1:29). It is considered a sacred trust, and something "granted," rather than an unfortunate consequence, because it is a privilege to suffer for Christ (Acts 5:41).

Bubba is usually the one to encourage me, but every once in while he gets sad. In his last letter he was down, and I wrote back to encourage him. That's the same thing believers have been doing for other believers for centuries (see 1 Samuel 23:16). Nothing esoteric, just a reminding one another of true things.

Here is a portion of the letter I received from Bubba today:

"Hello, How are you? …Today is good, Andrée. You know the Lord will make us choose! My emotions get to me, lies from Satan of no self-worth. And when those days come we can choose to stand and confess the Word or let the Enemy beat us down. At times like yesterday I was being beat down, and I stood on His promises. Then Satan had to go! I confessed them out loud. I did battle with the Word and won!

"We can't give up, not one moment must not cross the Enemy lines. We must stand and fight for our promises. They are routs. But we must believe! And with the mouth confession is made to salvation, for with the heart one believes to righteousness (Romans 10:9-10). Proverbs: Death and life are in the power of the tongue. They that love it will eat of its fruit. Out of the belly flows living water. It's so amazing how true it is when we move past our knowledge to the Lord's knowledge. Don't be wise in your own eyes, but fear the Lord. …

"My Thanksgiving was good, can't complain. This year I will thank the Lord how well He brought me where I am now and my past is forgiven. The Lord, Andrée, tests the heart of those who say they want Jesus as Lord.

"Love, Bubba."