You know when you ask the Lord for something, and when you get it, it’s nothing like what you expected? That’s how Thailand has been for me. I didn’t think the hostels/hotels we stayed in would be smack dab in the middle of the Red Light District. It’s so funny that we are in such a beautiful country, but the enemy has tried to cover it in so much darkness. He has tried to claim this country as his own, by filling it with prostitution, sex tourism, and human trafficking.
During debrief in Pattaya, my team and I prayer walked down the infamous “Walking Street,” ( a tourist attraction for strip clubs, bars, and sex tourism) and I could feel the darkness. There were half naked women on the streets with their 4 year old children standing next to them, little girls/boys dressed up so cute, walking with people that you knew weren’t their parents, and people caressing them in ways that made your skin crawl. Ping pong pamphlets were shoved in our faces, advertising men & women in any sexual position you wanted, with prices listed right next to them. In a place like this, even the smiles I gave to people were turned into something perverse. They would return my smile with a look of, “well what do you want to give me?” There were many times I got choked up, and almost stopped praying because I was so disgusted by what I was surrounded with. However, I knew the enemy was already upset that we were there, and he wanted nothing more than for me to stop in my tracks, and let him bully me out of “his turf.” At that moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me of this:
We GET to pray for the broken. We GET to intercede for the lost. We GET to pray for heaven to come down, and restore this place to the glory of the Father. We should be rejoicing over the fact that we can partner with the Holy Spirit at any time, and TAKE ACTION. We can no longer say, “I don’t know what to pray for.” YES YOU DO. Pray for the clientele to dry up. Ask that people would no longer have the desire to indulge in the selfish desires of their flesh, no matter if their saved or not. Pray that people would no longer want to exploit people because they can, or as a way to validate who they are as a person.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say (John 10:13). ASK HIM. Cry out to Him! Worship Him! Worship is our weapon, and we need to use it. The name of Jesus can break down strongholds, and crumble them at our feet. Know that God’s will is going to be carried out whether or not you’re the one to do it. I had a vision for how I wanted to prayer walk the Red Light District in city of Phuket, and walk the street 7 times, but things came up and we weren’t able to do it. A week later I found out that Fusion squad had done what I prayed for, and they carried out the will of the Father down Walking Street, and covered it in prayer 7 TIMES. His work was still done, and it will continue to be done. We can’t get caught up in the fact that we’re not always the ones on the front lines. You still have a part to play. PRAY ANYWAYS. It is so important, and I ask that you pray with us against injustice all over the world, having faith that God will, and IS moving in these places. Don’t limit the Spirit by saying, “I can’t do anything, I’m not in those places,” for Paul says in Ephesians 6:12,
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts against wickedness in the heavenly places.” Partner with us in the Spirit. Ask Him to give you the words for those wandering souls that are in desperate need of a savior. Ask for their eyes to be opened. Jeremiah 33:3 says,
“Call to me and I will answer you,and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”
With all this being said, I’m glad the Lord brought me here to light a fire in me. He opened my eyes to the horrible injustices of this world, but I can take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world John 16:33.
Love,
Alisha
