*Photo credit: Creative Commons
“She sat motionless on the street corner, tiny droplets of sweat running down her cheek. The dirt smudges on her calloused hands were stained red with the blood from the open blisters that covered her palms. Her tattered shirt hung limply around her frail body, exposing the bones that protruded from her rib-cage.
The sun began to set, and a man from inside the old building shouted out to the child in a language I could not make out, yet I knew they were demanding for her to prepare for her work that evening.
She had not eaten in two days – they would only feed her if she fulfilled the requests of the strange men who came in every night. For the first time since I had been watching her, she gathered up all the strength she had left to stand up on her own two feet and walk back towards the door.
My heart pounded with each step she took, I tried calling out to her but no sound came.
‘Lord, help me get to her,’ my heart cried.
Suddenly, she slowly turned her head to meet my gaze into her eyes, and I froze.”
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I woke up that morning around 2 AM in a cold sweat. Her face, those eyes; I was terrified, for I had never felt so much pain in my life.
As I fell to my knees in prayer, the Lord began to calm my soul so that I would understand what He was trying to get through to me.
I wanted to run to her and hold her. I wanted to tell her that there was a Father who loved her unconditionally and would never let those strange men touch her in those places ever again. But my sounds were muffled in the dream, and I could not run, no matter how hard I tried.
This is what He wanted me to see - this child had no voice.
She could not speak out or tell anyone of her pain. The enemy wanted to keep me silent as well. He wants to keep the world silent. And the battle rages on as he lurks in the deepest corners of your heart to keep you silent.
*Photo Credit: END IT Movement
Now ask yourself….
Has he won?
There are more slaves in the world today than there are in any other time in history – 27 million slaves.
What’s even more shocking is that it’s happening, right here in our own country, even in our own towns. Just like the little girl in my dream, Satan threatens to ravage and destroy the lives of millions of innocent and precious children.
Every. Single. Day.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. // John 10:10
Friends, I urge you, I beg of you. Do not be silent. Rise up. Be a voice for those who have none. That’s who He has made you to be; a warrior. The Lord has given you such a precious light that burns within you and has the power to rid the world of all evil, if you would refuse to allow the enemy to steal it away.
The world may try to tell us that there is no way this could ever end; it’s too much or too big, and it’s not our problem. But you have seen and you have heard, and our brothers and sisters are crying out for our help.
Our God is bigger than it all, and it will END.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. // Isaiah 62:1
For more information on slavery and human trafficking, and to get involved in bringing it to an end, please visit END IT Movement and International Justice Mission.
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