My heart can not rest – it can not sit silent. I am excited and my Spirit rejoices in
harmony with the encounter of its movement around me. The recognition of this supernatural connection
expresses itself in a stirring peace.
The other morning in the shower I was wondering why we
(believers) shy away from interacting with those labeled as “sinners”; the
outcast and the one whose sin is glaringly obvious in their life (many of us have
become too good at hiding our sin).
Sometimes I think it is because we see ourselves in their sin and it
scares us. We think that in associating
ourselves with “those” people, we will be revealed as the sinners we really
are; our weaknesses laid bare and our hearts made vulnerable. But look at Jesus’ life; those were the very
people he went out of his way to associate with.
My thoughts took me to the girls I met in Thailand
last year. Many of them were trapped in
lies that had convinced them that selling their bodies was the best way to
provide for themselves and their families.
And while I can’t say that I identified with the occupation, I could
still see myself in each of those girls.
The lies convincing them that they needed this money only scratch the
surface of the tangled web Satan has woven in their hearts.
There are much deeper longings that pierce the heart of women,
regardless of race, age, status, occupation or location. There are the desires to be loved and cared
for that all women identify with
, as well as the endless pursuit for
affirmation of our beauty and worth. I
saw those longings in the eyes of the women at the bars; I recognized it from
the eyes of the reflection that looks back at me everyday. The truth that Satan tries to hide is that
those longings are beautiful, natural and can only be filled by our
Creator! All other pursuits to fill
those desires only leave us feeling empty, worthless and hungry for more.
While the recognition of our sin in unexpected places may
scare us, it is a crucial part of our testimony. The realization that we are only who and
where we are because of the grace of God, and not because we are perfect or
have it all figured out, is what frees people to accept forgiveness and be
restored. I met a handful of beautifully
restored girls who had amazing testimonies of redemption and grace amidst the
darkness that covered the costal town and I believe they are only the beginning
of a movement God is bringing to restore purity around the world.
God created us to invade the impossible and bring Kingdom on
earth through the recognition and release of His power in the Spirit in our
everyday lives. Be an invader.
check out what some invaders are up too – http://stephaniefisk.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=team-up-gear-upbiking-against-trafficking
