Last night, I (Jency) went to a Sara Groves (and Sandra McCracken, Derek Webb, Charlie Peacock, and Brandon Heath) concert, and this month for the 28th, I wanted to share some things that Sara Groves shared at the concert. It was her "Art, Music, Justice" Tour, and the whole night was filled with hope and completely centered around Jesus. The musicians are also raising money and awareness for Food for the Hungry and the International Justice Mission. It was a great night.
Sara told us the story of Elizabeth- a girl she had gotten to hear speak at an International Justice Mission event. Elizabeth had grown up the oldest of 7 children in a Christian home and wanted to go to Bible College. She realized that she needed a job to save money for college, but jobs were hard to come by where she lived. A lady in the community told her she could find her a job in a neighboring community. Elizabeth and her family had no idea that this lady would then take Elizabeth captive. Before she knew it, at age 15, Elizabeth was in a foreign country where she did not know the language, living in a brothel. Everyday, though, she got on her knees and prayed. She was made fun of by the other girls- they would laugh at her when she said her God would rescue her from that awful place. She was surrounded by people telling her that her God could not hear her there, that He had turned His back on her.
And then God rescued her- IJM raided the brothel and rescued Elizabeth and several other girls. When they walked into Elizabeth's 6'x8' bedroom, above a small mattress on the floor she had written Psalm 27:
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
Sara Groves said that she believes Elizabeth knows a side of God that she does not know- but she wants to know. Elizabeth has been to a place with the Lord that most of us have never been to, but when we work alongside the oppressed and the poor, we will get to see another beautiful characteristic of the Lord. If we want to go to a deeper level with Jesus, we should ask people like Elizabeth what they know.
Another event Sara shared about last night was IJM's Global Prayer Gathering. The event has different rooms set up that represent different countries and prayer issues. She walked into the room for the Philippines, and the man that was facilitating the prayer at the front of the room seemed a little rushed. He said, "everything prayer request we've had has been answered so we better hurry because there is lots to pray for." The Lord listens to our prayers, and he answers.
And finally, Gary Haugen, founder of IJM, said once that he used to focus 98% on the problems and despair in the world and only 2% on Hope and the good things that were happening. But then he realized that he was wrong in doing that. Our God is mighty to save, and we should praise Him for the mighty things He has done and is doing in the world. As a good friend once said to me, "Jesus will make it right."
It is easy for us to dwell on the hopelessness of the situations we read about, the ones we see on TV, and the ones we see with our own eyes. The 28th of every month could easily be filled with one horrific story after another. But that is not giving our Lord Jesus the praise He deserves. So, while we will continue to spread awareness about injustices going on in this world on the 28th day and earnestly pray for the Lord to deliver the oppressed, I ask that you all hold us accountable to not forgetting to give Jesus the praise He deserves for the things He has done and is doing and will do.
So, I don't have any prayer requests this month- only praise requests. Yes, please please please continue to pray for the women and little girls in brothels around the world. But let's focus this month on praising our amazing Savior for who He is and what He is doing in our lives and in people's lives around the world!
Praise requests:
- Praise the Lord for your Salvation and for being a God who rescues us.
- Praise the Lord for people like Elizabeth, who even when they are in the midst of darkness, still cry out and cling to Jesus- praise Him for the comfort He gives
- Praise the Lord for organizations that are fighting injustices in this world- for people who have left careers and safe, comfortable lives to fight for people for the sake of the Gospel- praise Him that He is on our side.
- Praise the Lord that He is mighty to save!
- Praise the Lord that He truly does what it says in Psalm 10
Psalm 10
1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
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