In Swaziland we had a worship night where we joined together our squad with the kids living in the orphanage where we were working. We gathered in the chapel at 7:30pm where we found the benches set up with candles and lights scattered throughout the room. We started with a prayer and then Kyle began to play songs on his guitar while we sang along. Everything started out normal for me, the usual songs, the same people, but then it all changed. As I sat there listening and sometimes singing along I felt like God was asking me to lay face down on the ground, not a normal worship position for me so I ignored it. The longer the worship lasted the more I felt the need to lay on the ground, but still I continued to ignore it. After 3 or 4 songs it was still there, still persisting so with a big sigh I gave in and laid on that dusty floor, my face practically touching the ground. I felt ridiculous, why was I doing this? I just laid there for a few minutes thinking about how ridiculous I felt and debating on getting up, but decided to stick it out a little longer and try to pray a bit. At first it was really awkward and I told God exactly what I thought about it. The longer I stayed there though the more I felt this strong need to pray for a friend of mine back home, so I started out with the usual, basic prayer: safety, for God’s hand to be shown in his life each day, comfort, etc. Soon I was praying for his family, for their relationship, their salvation, that He would break the bonds that are holding them, and this is what my heart cry turned into:
SET THE CAPTIVES FREE PART 1
Laying on the ground
My face hovers inches from the dusty floor
I breathe in the dust from the chapel while music ebbs and flows from the voices around me
Soothing me, calming me
My spirit cries out
Redemption, renewal, revival
Break the chains, the bonds holding me back
Break me free from the lies
Draw me near, into Your loving arms
Erase the pain, the rejection, the fear
Shine Your light into the darkness
Reveal those hidden areas in my heart
Bring me to them and bring me through them
Banish the dark
Send it fleeing for its life
Revive my heart
Renew my mind
Redeem my life
Draw me to Your side
SET THE CAPTIVES FREE PART 2
He is bound, bound by the chains
The chains of pain, of guilt and of shame
They hold him captive in the darkness of his soul
Taunting him, haunting him, they won’t let him go
He’s drowning in that darkness so deep
So deep he can’t reach the surface
His lungs are failing, he can’t breathe
The darkness is winning, it takes him deeper and deeper
Break the chains of his pain, his guilt, his shame
Redeem him in your holy name
Breathe life into his lungs
Revive his soul
Please Lord show him, you’ll never let him go
He’s crying for help but his chains are so strong
He can’t break free, he is so weak
Give him the strength that he so needs
Pull him out of his darkness, out of the deep
Shine your light through his soul so he can let go
He’s holding on tightly for it’s all that he knows
Who will he be without all that’s inside?
What will happen if he doesn’t have that to hold onto?
His chains are so strong, he thinks they’re where he belongs
He’s accepted the lies and holds on tight
Too afraid of the truth so he runs and hides
He believes he’s a lost cause
Nothing can save him now
It’s a lie, it’s a lie, that’s the devil at his side
Break the chains, set him free
Send the devil running for his life
He isn’t welcome, not anymore
Break the chains of pain, of guilt, of shame
So he can trust in your love and your name.
