Power of Prayer

DEAR BROTHER/SISTER POLICE OFFICERS

MY NAME IS BRYSON, A FELLOW POLICE OFFICER, I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN HOPES THAT IT WILL HELP IN CHALLENGING ALL POLICE OFFICERS IN THE POWER OF PRAYER.

I HAVE 20 YEARS OF SERVICE IN POLICE WORK BUT NOT JUST IN EAST TENNESSEE BUT THROUGH OUT THE SOUTH EAST. I HAVE WORKED IN ALL PARTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM JAIL WORK, TRANSPORTATION, AND WORKING ON THE ROAD.

THE BIGGEST PART OF A PRAYER LIFE IN A COPS LIFE IS FINDING THE TIME OR ENERGY TO PRAY AND THE WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP THE CONTROL THROUGH FAITH TO THE ALMIGHTY. WE AS COPS NEED TO STAY IN CONTROL WHICH COMES FROM OUR TRAINING FROM THE TIME WE START IN LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE TIME WE RETIRE. I WAS LUCKY, I HAD GRANDPARENTS/PARENTS WHO BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF PRAYER. I FIND MYSELF DEPENDING ON MYSELF TOO MUCH AND NOT GIVING UP THE CONTROL TO THE ONE WHO IS IN CONTROL, THE ALMIGHTY. I DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN BUT I ALSO GET CAUGHT UP IN THE JOB AND SOMETIMES FORGET WHERE MY TRUE STRENGTH COMES FROM, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I HAVE PRAYER PARTNERS THROUGH THE C.O.P.S. MINISTRY PRAYER PROGRAM WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT MY SOUL AS WELL AS MY SAFETY. I WANT YOU TO KNOW AS WELL AS MY PRAYER PARTNERS AND C.O.P.S. THAT THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN IN SITUATIONS WHERE I HAVE BEEN HURT, DUE TO THE KIND OF JOBS WE DO, AND I BELIEVE PRAYERS FROM MY PRAYER PARTNERS ARE THE REASON I HAVE WALKED AWAY FROM THESE SITUATIONS. THESE SITUATIONS HAVE RANGED FROM BAR FIGHTS TO ARRESTING SOMEONE ON AN ACTIVE WARRANT BUT I DO NOT HAVE TO TELL MY BROTHERS/SISTERS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ABOUT ANY CERTAIN SITUATIONS, WE ALL FACE THEM EVERYDAY.

MY CONCERN IS THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER IS WHEN YOU ARE INVOLVED IN THESE SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE PLACED YOUR WELL-BEING IN GOD'S HANDS, AND YOU ARE NOT JUST DEPENDING ON YOUR SELF TO COME OUT ON TOP. GOD ORDAINED US AS POLICE OFFICERS AND EXPECTS US TO HANDLE THE JOB WITH PRIDE, TREATING THOSE WE SERVE AS WE WOULD EXPECT TO BE TREATED. GOD HAS GIVEN EACH AND EVERYONE OF US THE PASSION TO BE POLICE OFFICERS. GOD IS A JUST GOD AND DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THROW YOU TO THE WOLVES. THIS IS WHERE PRAYER COMES IN THROUGH YOUR LIFE. WE AS POLICE OFFICERS ARE NEVER LEFT BY GOD BUT WE ALL HAVE FREE WILL AND GOD WILL NEVER PUSH US INTO A PRAYER LIFE, HE EXPECTS IT TO COME FROM US TO HIM, AND YOU CAN BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY HE HAS A LOT OF GRACE BECAUSE HE DEALS WITH ME.

DO NOT EVER BELIEVE YOU HAVE COME TO THE END OF YOUR ROPE BECAUSE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE BREATH, YOU HAVE GOD ON YOUR SIDE, WHICH MEANS YOU HAVE HOPE. JUST STOP FOR A MOMENT, QUIT LOOKING AT THE SITUATION, AND LOOK TO GOD FOR ANSWERS THROUGH PRAYER. I PROMISE, HE HAS THE ANSWERS FOR YOUR LIFE.

GOD BLESS,

BRYSON