This month one year ago I was at a conference in Atlanta, Georgia learning about how slavery is more prevalent now than ever before.
God was revealing Himself to me in brand new ways. I was feeling His spirit fall upon me; I started weeping at unexpected times that week because God’s presence was so full in me.
My eyes were opened to women that had no way of escaping. They couldn’t be freed of the chains that were holding them down. I saw faces and heard stories of the pain, the shame.
They were trapped.
How could I help them?
How could I help them experience the Lord who wants to give them a new life?
He wants to welcome them into His arms, but they were unable to cry out to Him. They didn’t know who God was.
They were silent.
– – –
Fast forward to today. I am in India sitting amongst one hundred women who have felt this pain. These women are searching for a way out.
They are temple prostitutes.
And they are searching for Jesus.
God has given me the desires of my heart. He has allowed me to tell them about a man who has freed me. Not a man who has used me.
Our teams have been sharing how God is a loving God.
We are being vulnerable so they might also be.
The pastors are sharing the difference between gods they once worked so hard to please and the God we know. They are learning how to pray. They are learning how to discover God.
We are playing with their children. We are loving on their children.
We are washing the women’s feet.
They are washing each other’s feet.
We are treating them how God desires for them to be treated.
We love them so that they might experience Jesus.
God sees these women not as prostitutes anymore.
He sees them as His beautiful daughters.
When they know the truth, the truth will set them free. Their lives will be full again.
– – –
At the end of the conference, many women shared what God has been doing in their lives.
The healing.
The freedom.
The love they have experienced here.
How much they want their families and community to know Jesus.
The stories of hurt turned to joy!
Oh Jesus, I thank you for the way you love us.
God you are so compassionate.
We do not deserve to be treated this way.
Oh Lord may you use this experience as a beginning.
The beginning of a new life for your daughters.
See them face to face.
They need you.
Oh how they need you.
Chase after them.
Don’t relent.
Thank you.
Thank you for loving these women.
Thank you for loving me.
Thank you for this moment in time where I have
been able to serve you in a way I didn’t know was fathomable.
Your grace is sufficient.
Thank you for the gift of life.
May we all not take it for granted.
Jesus you are all we need.
Amen and amen.
