“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” –John 1:5
I have never felt the distinct conflict between darkness and light like I have felt it here in Mozambique. In my ministry, in the squad and my team, in my personal walk, and just being here in Dondo, I have seen and felt the conflict of darkness and light.
There are blatant examples of how we have experienced darkness trying to invade. Honestly, it’s been really hard. But the truth is that light overcomes the darkness, every time. Always.
In ministry I see children who are dying in the hospital who have nothing. Literally nothing. No bed-sheets, no food, no doctors (they’re all on strike), no paper-towels to wipe up their mess. It is so easy to just see the hopelessness and the darkness. The hospital is the most difficult ministry for me. But the truth is that God has authority over every seemingly hopeless situation. He is trustworthy. He is good. He can handle my lack of understanding. He is our Healer. And ultimately, he has already defeated sickness and death. I also get to love on children in preschools who are healthy and full of life, which is probably my favorite part of our ministry.
On our squad and in our teams we are learning how to fight darkness by letting go of broken identities and stepping into true freedom; we’re learning how to root out lies and, in authority, claim who we are in our Father. I have become so aware of how the enemy tries to sow lies when I’m in a place of being vulnerable or taking steps to fight. And I am learning how to fight with truth. I’m learning to walk in confidence that comes from knowing and believing who I am as a daughter of the King. This is bringing such freedom. “It is for freedom that you have been set free.” –Gal. 5:1
Many of us have been attacked with sicknesses. Two of the girls on the squad have malaria. And, again, I know that these sicknesses are spiritual attacks and not just sicknesses. Last Saturday I went into Beira, the nearest town to Dondo, and I felt so sick. I was having severe stomach pains, was so nauseous and thought I was going to puke or pass out at any moment. The people around me, in the middle of a restaurant, all gathered around and prayed for me. Immediately I felt fine- so much so that I spent most of that day playing in the Indian Ocean. It ended up being one of the most refreshing days since being in Mozambique.
Some nights in worship under the pavilion I can feel an ominous presence coming from outside of the Iris walls. I have had several very distinct dreams about praying against evil. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I wake up and know that I have to pray right then. There is almost physical pressure some moments when I know that I am in a battle. But I am learning that there is no reason to fear. I’m learning to walk out my belief that I have authority over the darkness because of Christ who lives in me.
Thank you all for your prayers for me and for my squad. We need them. Please continue to cover us with your prayers when you think of us. We serve a real God and fight a real enemy. Thank you for joining me in fighting the darkness with the light that we carry.
I’m so thankful that because of our Father we can know and believe and walk in the truth that light, the Light, will always and forever defeat the darkness.
