When you buy the lie ...

... what you've purchased fills your hands.  Like Eve, clutching dripping, sweet fruit with all ten fingers.  And what could God give her that way?

Today I cry tears of broken anger and sometimes that's all I have.  But tears are powerful prayers.  And prayer is powerful fighting.  So, once again - all I have left ... is all He wants.

Some Tuesdays I ask you to give.  Some I ask you to open your eyes.  Some days I ask you to go.

Today I'm asking you to pray.  With me.  Stand in prayer as three.  Because He's here too.

"A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken." -Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT)

Prayer is my only weapon today. I'm glad it's the only one I need.

What are we praying? Let's tackle this together.


Satan's biggest lie: You Can't

• do anything different with your life
• choose
• find worth
• escape your chains
• hold hope
• be rescued or restored
• have another identity than the one given in pain
• be loved

And he sells this lie.  His price: varies and is ever-increasing, until you own nothing, not even your own soul.  It might seem a trifle at first, and what you buy might even be fun and seem worth it.

But Jesus offers something else.  He stands in a safe, Self-drawn circle and invites you to enter. What He sells is Truth:  YOU CAN

• take victory
• have freedom
• receive healing
• find an identity for which you were created
• hold hope
• keep restoration
• know true love

The cost: Already Paid.  His Blood. He holds His good wares out and offers them for free.

And what do we do?

Buy the lie. (*scream*)

"They exchange the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve what God has created instead of the Creator himself..." -Romans 1:25 (GNT)

And our hands become so full of it, we can't even see over our chains to Jesus's offer any longer.

This was my vision this morning.  The one that made me cry these powerful-prayer-tears.  Jesus offering His blood.  And us - choosing sin instead.  It's been me. I've broken His heart too.  It's been the guy addicted to p**nography, and the girl who chose to be in the video too.  

But not everyone has made the choice to reject Him.  Because they haven't even been given a choice.  Girls and boys, before they could discover His love have been stolen and sold.  They are helpless and hopeless and they are the victims, and they matter just as much as my own daughter and son.

This is why I fight. To free them long enough to offer them that choice.

Tuesdays we fight, and today it's all about prayer-war.  I'm girded up with my Armor, are you?  Here a weapon for you, powerful against every lie:

"I was chosen and sent to help the faith of God's chosen people and to lead them to the truth taught by our religion, which is based on the hope for eternal life. God, who does not lie, promised us this life before the beginning of time, and at the right time he revealed it in his message. This was entrusted to me, and  I proclaim it by order of God our Savior." -Titus 1:1-3 (GNT)

How do we pray, and what do we pray?

1. For truth to be PROCLAIMED.  In boldness by you and by me and by all of His redeemed ragamuffins still on this side of eternity.  (see above)

2. For lies to be exposed and silenced. Truthful words stand the test of time,
    but lies are soon exposed. - Proverb 12:19 (NLT) 


3.  For hearts to be opened.   I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us! -2 Corinthians 6:13 (NLT)

This week I found a blog written by a survivor of human trafficking  {Stones Cry}.  On this post she details how we can be praying.  Here's a portion:

"Survivors desperately need people who will pray for their healing with the conviction that, without their prayers, she may not make it.  However, knowing that prayer is important is completely different from actually praying effectively for this issue."

4. In gratitude for the victories He is already making possible as we fight, and has accomplished in many rescues, restorations, and recoveries.  Like when FreedomRocks!  :



For more rescue victories to thank your Father for, see the full stories of Exodus Road.

5.  For the roots of these lies to die.  Poverty. Greed. Exploitation. Prejudice. Fear.  ... Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. - Luke 10:19 (NLT)

Lord, today I pray as one humbled my my own refusal to receive.  I know You paid the price for me, Jesus.  And I want to receive with open hands all that you have for me.  Help me to put down every sin and hindering stronghold so that my hands and arms are ready for You and all of You.  Lord, as we pray for the victims of human trafficking, each soul You know.  Please help them to find the safety they long for.  Guide them to rescue, and give them Your healing restoration.  Send Your light and Your Truth to break down every lie and half-truth.  Show the community of freedom fighters how to fight with wisdom and zeal.  Guide us to be effective Gospel-proclaimers as we reach into the darkness with Your Love-Light.  Come against the oppressors with Your wrath and Your vengeance.  And bring them to Your grace too.

photo credit: Bill Longshaw freedigitalphotos.net