The View From His Eyes

Over the last few days I have seen oppressive
darkness that brings a heaviness to my heart.  I have seen violence. 
I have seen the streets FILLED with a whole generation of drunken men
and women. I have seen the effects of a culture turned upside down by colonialism.  I have seen children with scabies and
other infections due to lack of hygiene education. I have seen the downtrodden,
the broken, the poor, and the forgotten loiter all day in town waiting for
something to happen.  Something
good or bad, I’m not sure?

             It
would be so easy to see these things and walk around with a heavy heart
overwhelmed by the sad life stories filled with brokenness and apathy.  It would be easy to draw back, not
wanting to get close to the urine and sweat soaked clothes.  It would be easy to look at these
people and label them by their addictions, by their lack of employment, by the
tendencies towards domestic violence. Yes, it would be easy, but God has been
whispering something different to me.

God calls each of these precious
people by name.  He says these are
my chosen, my beloved.  I created
them and can number each of the hairs on their head.  God’s heart breaks as He sees their struggles and defeated
hearts.  He is telling me to
encourage, to listen, to extend a hand, and to pray.  He is telling me that each one has a story that is important
and significant.  He is telling me
to love with all I have.  He is
telling me to share the hope that I have in Him.   

It is when I began to listen to God
I could get over myself and get out of my comfort zone.  In the last week I have prayed with
many believers.  Prayed for freedom
of addiction, for unsaved family members, for healing.  Some have even accepted the Lord for
the first time!  The Lord prepared
the way and was just waiting for my eyes to see things the way His do.