In a crowded federal prison room, hundreds of incarcerated women lifted their hands to sing the powerful Christian anthem I Speak Jesus alongside worship leader Lizzie Morgan. This unexpected gathering hosted by God Behind Bars turned a place of deep pain into a sanctuary of hope and spiritual freedom.
The music was led by Lizzie Morgan who has sung with popular groups like Maverick City Music. She stood on a simple stage with an acoustic guitarist and keyboard player.
The song they sang is called I Speak Jesus. It was written in 2019 by Dustin Smith, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, Raina Pratt, Carlene Prince and Abby Benton.
The message of this song is so simple yet direct for all of us. It asks Jesus to bring peace over broken minds, break painful addictions and speak hope into dark places. When we speak His name together fear has to leave.
This special service took place inside the Federal Medical Center Carswell located in Fort Worth Texas. It is a facility that houses female federal inmates who need medical or mental health care.
The outreach was brought into the facility by God Behind Bars. That wonderful non-profit prison ministry was started back in 2009 by Jake Bodine. They go into correctional centers across America to share the gospel bring live worship and help restore lives. They even created a special app so prisoners can listen to preaching and worship songs right on their tablets.
As the song reached its peak, the energy in that room shifted completely. Lizzie sang out about the power and healing found in the name of Jesus and the women sang back with everything in them. It did not feel like a prison anymore. It felt like family gathering around the table of the Lord.
During this same outreach trip over sixty women stepped forward to be baptized in water making a public promise to start a new life in Christ.
My heart rejoices knowing that no matter where a person is or what mistakes they made in the past, the mercy of our Savior can reach them right there.
Isn’t it powerful to see how God’s grace reaches these precious women in that prison? Many of them probably felt like they had completely lost every last bit of hope they had left in this world. But when they came to Christ their whole focus just shifted right away from all those heavy earthly challenges and turned straight toward His beautiful salvation.
It is just a great reminder for all of us that no matter how bad our circumstances might become, our focus should always be on Christ.
The Apostle Paul was bound in chains inside a dark prison cell. But his spirit did not waver because his heart was anchored in the Lord. Right from there, he wrote four powerful letters of the New Testament that still comfort and guide our souls today.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
This must be the anthem of every believer in Christ.
Heavenly Father, we come to You today needing Your strength and Your grace. No matter what trials we face in our lives, or what opposition comes against us for standing in our faith, please anchor our hearts in You. Help us focus on Your salvation and eternal glory. Pour Your Holy Spirit over every weary heart today, give strength to those in trial, and bring salvation into every dark place. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
WATCH: Inmates Join to Sing ‘I Speak Jesus’ in Powerful Worship
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