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Where None Would Dare to Trod

Coming into the last week of our time in Guatemala our team as a whole prayed that The Lord would lead us into more than we could ever imagine. We had asked The Lord to give us what we needed to finish strong. Wednesday morning rolled around and we began at 9:30 am with the task ahead being evangelism for the prostitutes living and working in the local bars and brothels. We walked down the street towards the hub of the area surrounded by the fumes of the city while the sun beat down relentlessly on our skin- we marched to the trenches. We split into groups of five to cover a larger area and entered into the first few places armed with the words of The Lord and covered with the protection of the Holy Spirit. The first girls we spoke to were very closed off and hard hearted (which was no surprise), but we prayed for them anyway and their spirits seemed lifted as we went on our way. We went on to meet up with the other groups before continuing to the next destination. When we reunited with the rest of our team our ministry host asked me if I would play and sing as we walked to the next group of brothels. At first, I was frustrated, tired, hot, and in no mood to lead people in worship. “Play and sing to welcome the Holy Spirit,” she said. After I sulked for a moment in the thought of carrying an extra burden on an already difficult day, I was reminded of the story of the battle of Jehoshaphat against the Amorites in 2 Chronicles Chapter 20.

//After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

While the singers from the story were singing the praises of The Lord the battle was being fought for them. When they reached the place where the battle was to be fought, the enemy had already been defeated.

Four weeks earlier I was spending time with Jesus and He started to give me a song. I had no idea that the words I wrote that morning would be the anthem of what happened on this day. So I began to sing…

Clear the way for the King has come to meet with us
He leads by cords of kindness guides with bands of love
Clear the way for the Lamb has come to dine with us
His body is the bread the wine that covers us

Spirit come
Spirit come
Cover us cover us
Spirit come
Spirit come
Cover us wash us in Your blood

Clear the way for the army of the Living God
Our Lord calls us to march where none would dare to trod
Clear the way for the children of the Most High King
His strength will be our song in victory we sing

Spirit come
Spirit come
Cover us cover us
Spirit come
Spirit come
Cover us wash us in your blood

We welcome You in this room Holy Fire come consume
Here we bow with an offering of praise
The King of Kings lifted high
Now we raise our battle cry
As we stand in awe of You
The Kingdoms coming in this room

I sang it out until we reached our next brothel. My group and I prayed again that the Spirit of God would break through, knowing confidently that the light always overcomes the darkness. As soon as we approached the door of the brothel a man greeted us. We told him that we were there to bring joy, and asked if there was anyone working who we could pray for. He was hesitant at first, but then he decided to allow us to come in. When we walked through the curtain, we were immediately approached by a woman with desperation in her voice and a deep pain in her eyes. She grabbed my arms and repeated the words “You have fallen from heaven” over and over and over again. Then with tears streaming down her face she told us her story.

Her name was Diana. She was originally from Honduras and hadn’t been in Guatemala for very long. She told us about the abuse she received showing us the scars on her arms and her legs. She told us about how she lost her only source of comfort in her life , her mother, only a month prior. Then she told us about her son who had gone missing 6 months earlier. She continued to weep as she showed us a homemade flyer with her son’s photo and a number to call if he was spotted. She continued telling us her story of hopelessness and desperation. After listening and crying with this completely broken woman who we had only just met, we started to talk to her about something that changed the atmosphere of the entire room. We told her that God had not forgotten her. He saw her heart, felt her pain, and hurt along with her. He loved her so much that he sent us all the way from the United States to remind her of His love. Then we told her the best news of all. The news of Jesus Christ. The story of love, redemption and hope. After talking with her and praying for her for about an hour she told us that she wanted Jesus. So there, sitting in a brothel in Puerto Barrios Diana stepped from death to life in Christ Jesus. I was overwhelmed by the power of the Holy Spirit that was preparing us to bring joy to a woman whose walls laid broken down before we even stepped into the room.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Nothing is more satisfying and fulfilling than being able to walk in the plans that God has set out for you. Bless The Lord. Oh my Soul. Bless The Lord.

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