A Call to Fast & Pray

Friends and family,

This coming week is special. For many people it will mean days with the family and celebrations. But for others, this week is special in a different way. This coming holiday week is one of the busiest for brothels here in India. Similar to American events like the Super Bowl and the associated increase in sex-trafficking there every year, this coming week brings a much larger volume of customers to the brothels.

This means more women working longer hours throughout the days and nights to satisfy the insatiable demand. This also means more children who are exposed to these environments having their senses assailed by the activities occurring in the next room, or as is unfortunately common, directly above them, as they try to sleep under the bed of their mother.

The threats to these children are clear: 95% become 2nd generation commercial sex workers. But the threat doesn't end there. Even for those who can be rescued or find another life, what their eyes see and ears hear can leave deep scars in need of healing.

These realities are hard to grapple with, and it is especially unnerving being so close to some of these places this week.  However, we are not powerless. Not even close.

This week, I am asking you to join me for a day of fasting and prayer of intercession for the vulnerable and defenseless. For those whose bodies are being used for destruction, and just as much, for the innocent little ones who will be threatened by being in the same place.

 

You see, without Christ, we are indeed powerless. But with Christ, our finite obedience and humble cries reach an infinite God. And in that, we have "the divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Cor 10:4) in Jesus name.

Please join me in fasting and praying specifically for the children currently forced to be in the brothels or other places of such darkness this week. Please intercede with me on their behalf for protection from physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse.  Isaiah 59:16 - "God wondered that there was no intercessor" for the oppressed and vulnerable. Let God not wonder today. Let us stand as intercessors in the power of The Intercessor, Christ, to whom this passage in Isaiah refers.

I pray that Isaiah 58:6-9 brings you encouragement and guidance if you decide to fast this week:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."

 

Thank you for your sacrifices for these children in the sight of God. May the God of all grace grant protection and salvation for the children in dark places this week and reward your faithfulness in Christ. Amen.