Ephesians 6:12
Sunday, January 6
Last night, six of us went to the bars for the first time to build relationships with the prostitutes, the lady boys, the bartenders. To love them as Jesus loves.
For two days, I struggled with the idea of going into the bars. Fear gripped me each time I thought about it. I don’t build relationships well. I’ve never been in a bar in my life. I don’t speak Thai. The list went on.
I finally expressed these fears to my team, who fought for me through prayer.
A few hours later, all twelve of us gathered together for an incredible time of prayer and worship. We were pumped up, excited to go out to the streets. My fear turned to joy and excitement.
While six of us went to the bars, six people stayed back to pray for us, for the people we would meet, for the night, and anything else that God brought them. And let me tell you, we felt their prayers! The night went well. I actually loved it and had more joy and excitement than I ever thought possible.
When we got back, we all debriefed the night, sharing what had occurred in the bars, talked about the people we met, and prayed.
I dropped into bed, ready for a good night of sleep.
It’s 4:26a.m. here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and I’m wide awake, as I’ve been for an hour and a half. Sleep doesn’t appear to be coming anytime in the near future.
You see, I woke up at 3 a.m. in a cold sweat, heart racing. I saw the last lady boy we met at the bars, the drunk lady boy. Only it wasn’t a lady boy, it was a demon. And there wasn’t just one. There were demons crowding the whole street.
I saw for the first time what we really face out on the streets each night. Everything in me tensed up. The darkness I felt surrounded me on all sides, boxing me in. Oppression was all around me.
We face a battle. But this battle isn’t against flesh and blood. This is spiritual warfare.
But I don't have to worry. Because I am not alone in this battle. And I know the end result. VICTORY!
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is in the law.
But thanks be to God.
He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
~1 Corinthians 15:55-57
I know God gives us victory and gives me hope, a reason to perservere, to carry on the work give myself fully to this work, knowing our labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)
I also know that we are COVERED in PROTECTION and PRAYER.
We were only with this lady boy for a total of ten minutes. I see now how much God protected us in that ten minutes. And if God protected us in that 10 minutes, how much did He protect us from in the other 23 hours and 50 minutes of the day that I don’t even know about?! He is covering us with protection, and I can trust Him because He is more powerful than the demons.
We have been COVERED in prayer as we go out into the streets, with half our teams staying back to intercede for us. Mornings include two hours of scheduled time for a prayer walk on bar street.
We are here to be light in the darkness.
So rise up, prayer warriors! We need you this month to help us fight the battle, to cry out to our Lord.
Please pray for us (Monday-Saturday):
- 7:00-8:15 a.m. (Eastern time): Evening for us, this will be our time of prayer and worship before half of us head out to the bars. Pray that we will be filled with God’s love as we prepare to pour out.
- 8:30-10:30 a.m. (Eastern time): This is our night time, the time we go out to the bars to make connections. Pray for open hearts, that we are able to see people as the Lord sees them, and love them as He loves.
- 10:30-12:30 p.m. (Eastern time): Debrief time, discussing the people we met, speaking truth into any lies, encouraging one another. Pray that Satan protects us from attack and that we are encouraged during this time.
- 12:30-8:30 p.m. (Eastern time): Sleep! Please pray that we are able to fully rest in the Lord and get the sleep we need for each day.
- 9:00-11:00 p.m. (Eastern time): Every morning, we will be prayer walking through bar street. Pray for our day, that we will be able to be a light in the darkness.
- 1:00-3:00 a.m. (Eastern time): In the afternoons, we will be going out just to talk to anyone in the bars who will talk to us. We will try to follow-up with the people we’ve already talked to in the bars, as this is a slower time in the day. Pray that God leads us to the people He has prepared for us.
Here is something my teammate, Natasha, wrote on the battle we face:
touches to my hair. I’m nervous, anticipation making me a little jittery. I’m going out to the bars tonight. I’m going to
make friends with the prostitutes and bar owners. I’m going to pray kingdom into that place. I’m praying for each
one of those bars and brothels to be shut down. Me and God, we’re fighting the enemy tonight. So, while I’m all
dressed up and “cute” I’m actually going into battle with my armor in place. I’m an undercover secret agent for my
Lord. Yes, I can witness to people openly on the street but I can also witness to them with my actions of love and
acceptance. I’ve got my battle face on; I know how this is going to end. It’s going to be a victory, there will be
casualties; casualties of my pride, my arrogance, my identity in this world but I’m okay with those being killed
because I will take pride only in my God and I will find my identity only in the King. In Jesus’ name there will be
victory in the battle over these men, women, and lady boy’s hearts.
Check out this video of the ministry we are doing this month: Love Acts
