Day 11: Praying for the exploited

By Gia Hughes

LIA Director of Human Trafficking Outreach

Pray for the owner of a massage parlor who recently asked Christian workers how she might receive forgiveness from her sins. Pray that she will accept God's forgiveness.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us.” - Ephesians 1:7-8a

Too often people know the path that leads to salvation, and will even take the steps to commit their lives to Christ, but somehow won’t allow His complete forgiveness to sink in. They substitute their own feelings of rejection and shame into His abilities. They allow fears, doubt and stress to interfere and bombard their thoughts with wondering if it is enough.

Verse after verse in God’s Word speaks of His abounding love for us - for the perfect price He paid to redeem us. They show His grace and mercy being poured out abundantly. They offer forgiveness and hope for all who will receive.

In a TV segment featuring Christian writer Ann Voskamp, she speaks on the fear and stress in her own life and how through God’s grace she was able to overcome. Take a minute and think about several thoughts she shared: “While I said I trusted God, I was bound up in fears.” Also, “My stress was really advertising the unreliability of God.”

What is your life advertising?

There has to come a point in your life where you trust God for who He says He is. When we place our trust in Jesus, it is not about anything we have done or ever will do. It is only about what He has done for us. He is enough He is more than enough for me.

Christ offers forgiveness for all of your sins. Do you believe He is the Son of God and gave His life on the cross for you? If you have never asked Him to come into your life and forgive you of your sins, I pray you will do that right now. 1 John 1: 9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” And He will.

If you have placed your trust in Him, but live with doubts and fears that won’t allow you to offer your whole self to Him for forgiveness, pray and ask to be able to see Him in all of His fullness. And believe. Then you will find peace and joy in His blessed redemption.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”- Colossians 1:13-14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

Day 10: Praying for the exploited

By Gia Hughes

LIA Director of Human Trafficking Outreach

Pray for three pimps in a tourist city in Thailand who recently received the Bible on SD cards, which are digital memory devices used in cell phones. Pray that God will open their eyes to the truth of His word.

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." - John 8:32

A headline on an article circulating on Facebook made me want to dig deeper. By the characteristics of the person mentioned, either he had changed or it was a lie. It was in fact a lie, but very well written to bring out a growing trend in our nation of only believing what is on the surface, without digging to find the truth.

We have all been guilty. Presuming something based on what we see without finding out the truth behind it; on hearing someone saying something about another and taking it as fact. We find ourselves watching the one-sidedness of news stories and believing it as the whole truth. We must be careful on what we base our truth on.

In cases dealing with prostitution, too many people still believe the myth that it is always by choice. That’s not true. Sometimes girls/ women do choose to participate in this lifestyle based on what they think. But even then, when looking deeper, the majority of times it is found that their thinking has been skewed by words or actions from an abuser(s) in their earlier years. They act according to what they “think is normal and right” when all of the time, it is against what God says is good and right for them.

More times than not, prostituting is by force. Deception and lies are at the root of it. Evil is at the very core. Even if it looks like the person is willing, many variables weigh in the background to keep them bound. Realistically, all involved in this atrocity are in some type of bondage from the enemy.

We, too, can keep them in bondage by only looking at the outward appearance of their situation; by ignoring that a problem does exist. Instead, I hope we will look to the heart of the matter and get involved; become more aware of those vulnerable in our surroundings and share the truths about trafficking to all we meet.

God can set them free! All of them! As they dig into the truths of His Word, and match it to their lives, they will find real freedom in Him. That is how we find it, too.

Blessings!

Day 9: Praying for the Exploited

Pray for those, like Pharaoh, who exploit the vulnerable for commercial gain.

Many places where jobs are not closely regulated and where casual labor is commonly used, you have a chance to find humans being trafficked. Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will. Just like in Egypt, the building or construction industry is one of the places we see it here in the United States. But it is in other areas, as well, like domestic servitude, farm work, sweatshop factory labor, janitorial, food service and other service industry labor, and begging. Often times the following businesses fall under both labor and sex trafficking: nail salons, massage parlors, spas, strip clubs, nightclubs and the list could go on and on. Almost anywhere you find business being transacted, there is a possibility of trafficking.

Pharaoh lied to Moses and to the people of Israel. He cared more about his gain than about their suffering. Each time Moses asked him to free God’s people, Pharaoh would agree, but would later retract his words and inflict harsher punishment to those he held in bondage. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” - Matthew 6:33

Our hearts become hardened when we consider anything other than God and His ways. I have often prayed for the Lord to break my heart for what breaks His. I want to care more deeply for the afflicted and hurting; for the wounded and crushed; for the persecuted and dying; for the unsaved. But even in this, He is too gracious to give me all that I ask. In all of His sovereignty, He knows that I wouldn’t be able to stand it. In all of His love, He bears it for me.

He knows that it is impossible for us to bear all of the burdens that He bears for us; for all of the suffering He sees. Instead, He gives us glimpses of what breaks His heart so that our hearts can break too, just a little, and we can be transformed to be more like Him. Trafficking breaks His heart. Trafficking breaks my heart, too.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” - Proverbs 4:23

Do everything within your power to prevent your heart from hardening like Pharaoh’s. Stay humble before Him and in right fellowship with Him; read His Word and hide it in your heart; pray and give thanks to Him for all things. Be obedient in what He asks. Seek Him first above all else. Praise His holy name. And put on love - His love.

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” - Ezekiel 36:26-27

Day 8: Praying for the exploited

By Gia Hughes

LIA Director of Human Trafficking Outreach

Read Exodus 1-12 this week.
Use these scriptures to fuel your prayers as you pray for those who are exploiting the vulnerable.

When we think of exploiting the vulnerable, or trafficking, our minds automatically envision images of children who are violated and misused at the hands of a deranged individual or group of individuals. Sex trafficking, for any age victim, is a horrendous crime and needs our utmost attention. It is where my heart is. But there is another form of trafficking that is prevalent in our world today with an estimated 21 million victims. It is labor trafficking. Called a modern-day form of slavery, labor trafficking is a violation of human rights.

Labor trafficking is defined as: “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.” According to new International Labor Organization estimates, three out of every 1,000 people worldwide are trapped in jobs into which they cannot leave.

In the first chapters of Exodus, the people of Israel are being held captive and forced into ruthless labor practices for the gain of their oppressors. It is too impossible of a task with the means that they are given, they can’t physically endure. The oppressors of today are much the same. They offer opportunities for a better job and life, but realistically, the victims get neither. Many are transported across international lines only hoping to gain what they are promised, yet are forced into subhuman standards to work long and hard hours. They are asked to pay large sums of money, keeping them financially indebted, just to have this opportunity. They are sometimes threatened and beaten to maintain their loyalty.

“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” - Matthew 5:44

Just like for the victims, we must pray for the oppressors. We must cry out against their thoughts and actions to our God who hears. We must pray without ceasing! We know time after time that prayer works and that lives are changed!

Go here https://www.facebook.com/lia.ministries to read about how our awesome God is changing the hearts of the military oppressors in the Philippines through Love In Action International Ministries.

Blessings!

Day 7: Praying for the exploited

By Gia Hughes

LIA Director of Human Trafficking Outreach

Thank God that He is "the God who sees" the plight of the oppressed.

“Lost are saved, find their way; at the sound of Your great name;
All condemned, feel no shame; at the sound of Your great name;
Every fear, has no place; at the sound of Your great name;
The enemy, he has to leave; at the sound of Your great name.”

I love worship music and keep it continually playing on my back porch. When I went out earlier to think about and pray over today’s request, the song “Your Great Name” was playing. The Bible teaches us that God is known by many names. Each name reveals a different characteristic of His nature. How many names of God do you know? How many do you know personally of who He is to you?

The name “the God who sees” (El Roi) was a name given to God by Hagar. (Genesis 16:13) This slave girl, with her pagan upbringing, had been used, cast out and completely rejected by the ones she served. She was alone and abandoned. Although she was out of sight from her owners, she was not out of God’s sight. In her loneliest, desert place, God “saw” her. He found her and came to her. He knew her and called her by name. He knew every detail about her.

This should make our hearts rejoice! Just like Hagar, God is the same for each one of us. He knows us individually and sees every part of our lives. Every tear, every hurt and every struggle we face … He knows and will meet us wherever we need Him most. For Hagar, He is El Roi, “the God who sees.” Do you know Him by another name such as Jehovah-Jireh, “the Lord our provider” or Jehovah-Rapha, “the Lord our healer?” What about Jehovah-Shalom, "the Lord our peace?" For whatever need we have, He has a name and will supply that need for us in Christ Jesus.

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

Christ Jesus, the name above all names (Philippians 2:9-11). The only name in which to be saved! (Acts 4:11-12) Your story is not over when you are at your darkest moments. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hears and sees and will meet you where you are, just like He did for Hagar. You are precious to Him!

Have you put your trust in Jesus to meet your most important need, to know Him as El Yeshua, “the God who saves?” If not, call on Him today, He is waiting.

“Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and man;
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise Your great name!”
You can listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PasbQx0VilQ