Isaiah 61: 1-11,
“The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;
but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.
For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvations; he has covered me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.”
At training camp, back in August, I was overjoyed to be asked to lead my squad as a, Beauty for Ashes ministry coordinator. This healing ministry, developed by Seth Barnes the founder of the World Race, consists of several teachings and activities. Back in 2004 Barnes traveled to Swaziland and heard the Holy Spirit speak, explaining why the women were suffering so badly in that nation. So many were living in shame, instead of tapping into the healing power and grace of God. They were bound by spiritual and emotional chains. He felt called to develop a specific ministry that was geared toward these women. In hopes that they would find freedom, and let the Holy Spirit guide their lives to the plans that the Lord originally created.
I have such a heart for women. I have been blessed with empathy, which God has used numerous times to give comfort to His daughters. At the beginning of the race I was so focused on wanting to make perfect B4A (Beauty for Ashes) retreats, that I missed several opportunities to just sit and let God speak truth into women. This spring God did some major work on my heart, teaching me the joy of being still and at peace, instead of trying to cross off tasks on my never ending to-do lists. By slowing down enough to let Him speak, He’s been able to win over many hearts.
This month in Rwanda, my team spends the afternoons evangelizing to the community. I used to hate evangelizing. I was very focused on the possible rejection, and stepping out to do something that was uncomfortable. But through my personal journey with God, my heart has been changed to this exercise. I view Jesus as a dear friend, someone who I would want to stick up for. And I see God as my loving Father, who has completely transformed my life. How selfish would it be to keep the blessings that He’s given me, just to myself. My story of transformation is not actually mine, but His. And there is power and speaking the truth. As it says in Revelation 12:11,
“For they have conquered him by the blood of the lamb, and the power of their testimony..”
In this scripture, ‘him,’ is referring to the enemy; the darkness in the world. Jesus’ blood defeated eternal suffering in this world, and our stories of His triumphs in our lives have power. God uses them for healing and redemption.
Earlier this week my team traveled to a village that our host has never been before. The poverty was much greater than where we were living. There were dozens of children, many without shoes. They led us down a bumpy hill to three women, who mothered many of the little ones we met. They welcomed us with love and open hands.
We started conversing with the women, asking them simple questions, and if there was anything that we could pray for them for. One of them,Caementin started crying and hid her face in her hands. She explained the shame she was consumed with. Four years ago, her husband left her to take care of her child, with a mental impairment, without a job. She couldn’t find any form of work, so she turned to prostitution. She now has four children, and is still dependent on that for income to scrape by. I felt the spirit lead me to sit at her feet, hold her hand, and let God speak through me. Reminding her of her worth, and the love He has for her. While she may be walking in this sin of using her body, He does not condemn her for it. His heart is absolutely broken to watch her sit in so much sorrow.
He then led me to wash her feet, and pray a cleansing blessing over her life.
Isaiah 1:18, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be white like wool.”
My team spent more time praying with the rest of her neighbors. While they all knew Jesus before we met them that day, He was pursing them in their brokenness. He sent us to surrender to His commands and let Him show them the love that He has for them. While it might not make sense to leave the only form of work that Caementin knows possible right now, God wanted her to know that He will make a way. Having faith is believing without seeing, and that’s exactly what we are called to have in the power of Jesus Christ.
With only 6 weeks left on the mission field, I’m beginning to understand that ministry isn’t nearly as complicated as I used to think it was. Choosing Jesus isn’t something that requires excessive work. In my pursuit of a deepening relationship with God this year, I’ve come to realize how simple it really can be. Dying to my fleshly desires, that don’t align with His word, have caused pain and some suffering, but it has ultimately led to the most fulfilling life that is all about God. The joy that I’ve received from doing His meaningful work has exceeded any prior feeling of fulfillment. I’ve laid down anxiety, excessive planning and striving. I’ve made it my life goal to glorify Him in all that I do, and let Him lead. I can’t wait to see where that takes me.
