Mar 12, 2020
Episode Summary:
In this episode, we talk with my guest, Shonda Whitworth, who
found herself in the worst of situations…the kind of situation no
parent ever wants to experience. She received a call that her son
had been arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault
with a deadly weapon under the Texas Law of Parties. She shares not
only her heartache but what the Lord has taught her through it, how
her prayer life has changed, and the hope available for parents of
incarcerated children.
Quotables from the episode:
- When tragedy comes, God’s word has to be inside of us in order
to come out of us during those hard times. You have to know what
you believe before a crisis hits, because when it does you have a
split second before you fall back on what you really do
believe.
- Only God can make something good come out of a good situation.
And He promises that in His word.
- We can take a situation that the enemy tries to shame us for,
and say “No!” to his taunts and jeers because the Bible says there
is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans
8:1)
- God used the most unlikely people and the most difficult
circumstances to fulfill His promises. For example, God used Samson
even though he wandered off, but God ultimately used him for
good.
- We need to pray for those who are in prison as if we were in
prison ourselves.
- Appealing to the courtroom of heaven is praying. God is judge
of all. The enemy is our accuser. Because Jesus died on our behalf,
we can enter the courtroom of heaven at any time. But the enemy
doesn’t like we can petition our Father for those things that are
rightfully ours. The blood of Jesus covers our sin when we come to
the Father and repent and confess.
- We may not have a loved one in prison, but the enemy so often
holds each of us in our own prisons through worry, fear, anxiety,
depression, discouragement, shame, sin, etc.
- Confession and repentance sets us free!
- Jesus already paid the price for every sin we have or will ever
commit, but it is up to us to go to our Heavenly Father, the only
one worthy of judging us, to repent and confess our sin so that he
will declare us not guilty. And that sets us free.
Scripture References:
- Romans 8:28 NLT "And we know that God causes
everything to work together[a]
for the good of those who love God and are called according to his
purpose for them."
- Hebrews 4:16 NLT "So, let us come boldly to
the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,
and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."
- Romans 15:13 NLT "I pray that God, the source
of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you
trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through
the power of the Holy Spirit."
Recommended Resources:
Social Media Links for Host and Guest:
Connect with Shonda Whitworth:
Website
/ Facebook
Shonda / Twitter
/
LinkedIn Shonda / Facebook
Fortress /
LinkedIn Fortress / Twitter
Fortress
For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at:
Order Book Breaking
Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book HopePrevails
/ Website
/ Blog
/ Facebook
/ Facebook
Twitter
(@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn
/ Instagram
/ Pinterest
/ YouTube
Guest:
Shonda Whitworth writes, teaches, and speaks at conferences and
retreats to share the hope of healing and restoration we have in
Jesus. After her son landed in state prison, she realized the
hardships families of prisoners encounter. She and her husband,
Eldon, founded Fortress of Hope Ministries, a nonprofit
organization that offers hope to families affected by
incarceration. Shonda transparently shares her testimony of living
with a son in prison at ShondaWhitworth.com and
FortressofHopeMinistries.com.
Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson
Audio Technical Support: Bryce Bengtson