Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
As I walk down the street of the red light district, my senses take in all that is around me as there is more than just the sight of it all.
My ears hear and my heart feels those crying out.
For above the sound of loud music, of drinks being poured, of men making indecent proposals as they cling obscenely to the girls, of women giving all of themselves in another evening with another stranger for a mere $11, my heart shatters.
The women are crying out in desperation. The men are crying out in brokenness. The children that are running around this area, being exposed to this “normalcy” cry out for a better life.
And my broken heart cries out in response.
I walk through the bars praying for those who are crying out. One after another GOD lays them on my heart. And my heart, my soul, my mind began praying prayer after prayer, sometimes not even knowing what is being spoken. But in the brokenness I cry out to GOD who loves, who saves, who redeems.
At first, I fought this. I wanted to invest in the women in a more relational way. I wanted to learn more about them, to listen to them, to connect with them, to share with them. Oh how I despise my selfish ways. It isn’t about me at all. So I once again found myself laying that down, knowing that it is all about GOD and that it is all for GOD. I can do nothing, for it is all HIM. I am a servant for HIM. As HE draws me close to HIM in prayer, HE draws me close to those I am praying for and through it all…
