My heart breaks for the addicted. Any kind of addiction.  The enemy destroys the soul and tries to crush the spirit of the addict.

Jesus came to set the captives free.  That gives me hope when it feels hopeless.

When I showed up at prayer at Bridge of Hope, there was a lady about forty years old, sitting on the front steps.  Next to her was her over packed shopping cart, and a suitcase. She looked swollen and tired, but looked like she had showered and her clothes were clean.

We offered her something to eat and asked her to come in for prayer.  When she entered the church, tears began to flow.  We welcomed her home.  Virgil said a prayer for her and then she asked if she could share. She had walked with Jesus for five years. She loved Him. She said how her husband had left her seven years ago, and then she had had a stroke due to the stress of the loss.  She then spiraled into depression and addiction, and is now here. On the streets.  We could feel the humility, the hurt, her tender heart yearning to come home.  She told us that she has high blood pressure. I asked if we could pray for healing. Immediately the Holy Spirit began to touch her. She began to speak in her prayer language and tears streamed down her face. She began to get louder and louder as God touched her. She fell back into her seat as we continued to pray.  I looked around the room and all my friends were on their knees, feeling the presence of the King for the one before us.

As I walked her out, I told her that God has given her a gift. That she is to use it continually in this season.  That no matter how dark the situation, if she is using, running, thieving, whatever… she is to continue to use her language. That gift was given to her to edify her spirit. To strengthen her. She looked at me, tears streaming down her face. She tearfully nodded her head and said, “ok”.

I saw her two days later in our food line. She shared with me that she is doing what I asked her to do, but it was really hard.  She began to tear again, and told me that because of her shame and addiction, she felt unworthy and wanted to run and self destruct.  Running farther and father. She said,” I left Him, He didn’t leave me.” He was softening her, showing her His love, letting her hear truth. Beckoning her home.

Looking into her eyes, hearing her share so honestly, feeling her pain, she was speaking to me. To my struggles of letting go where God is asking me to. My struggle to lay down my wants and surrender my fears and trust Him fully.  I held onto every word she spoke and allowed God speak to me through this precious sister. We cried and hugged each other on the street corner- two of God’s kids, wanting to fully yield, wanting to say, “Yes Papa, I will come home and stay.”

Pray for Tina