There is something so sacred, so precious about stepping into the darkest places around the world and asking to see them through the eyes of the Father. As I walked through the red light district in Thailand, I asked Jesus to take me to the place in His heart reserved for those streets and those people. Last month, I spent hours and hours walking the streets of the red light district in Chiang Mai, Thailand praying, listening, and waiting to see what He was doing there before I would go into the bars at night. It’s easy to see sin. It’s easy to hear the voice of hopelessness and the voice of lust. It takes more patience to hear the still, small voice of my Father and to hear the whispers of the moving of the Spirit.
As I sat outside of the bars, I felt Jesus, inviting me into deeper and deeper places in His heart. I looked into His burning eyes and saw jealous love for the people in those streets. Every girl, every ladyboy, every pimp, every john…He loves them and is fiercely pursuing their hearts. I heard the cry of His heart: ‘I hate what they do, but I love who they are. I long to be reconciled to them’.
There is something so sacred, so precious about stepping into those places that many people are intimidated to step into. Yes, there is hurt and pain in those streets. There is brokenness, but the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart (Psalm 34:18). He is there, in the streets of the red light district, and He longs to share that place in His heart with us.
The Lord is always speaking. Are we listening? Are we willing to go to hard and dark places to catch a glimpse of His heart? The ‘door to His heart’ is always open for us to step into. I challenge you…go to those hard and dark places. Maybe in your city, maybe around the world. Ask Him for His heart and His passion. Yes, there are painful things to see and witness, but there is such beauty in those places because He is there. When you feel Him drawing you, inviting you, out of your comfort zones and daily routine… go with Him. I promise it’s worth it!
