Yesterday, I mentioned that I've been inspired to express what God is showing me through a scrapbook form of art. Today I will share my first attempt.
I've been looking over the International Justice Mission website lately. Just looking around and finding out what they do. I found a story of Manna, a girl who was deceived into becoming a prostitute in South Asia. To read a brief version of her story, click here. It is beautiful.

I am beginning to understand that Christ came to set the captives free. Honestly, we have probably all faced captivity. Most of us are actually in captivity to someone or something if we are honest with ourselves. Anytime you are hindered from experiencing the benefits of God's covenant relationship, you are in captivity. Here are some of the benefits God has offered us in Isaiah,

Benefit 1: To know God and believe Him
Benefit 2: To glorify God
Benefit 3: To find satisfaction in God
Benefit 4: To experience God's peace (Like a river, not a pond!)
Benefit 5: To enjoy God's presence

So the Enemy has come up with all manner and sorts of lies to hold us in captivity rendering us powerless to know the wonders of our God. I think my heart was pricked by this story of Manna I found on the website because she has been set free from a physical captivity. Many of the words used to describe her release from captivity are the same that Isaiah used to describe what Christ was and is coming to accomplish.

This is a photo of a South Asian street in the red-light district. People are going about their afternoon business. The sad reality is that young victims of sex-trafficing are kept out of site for fear that they will run away or attract police attention.

Here is a photo below of my new art (Click to enlarge). The scripture came alive to me as I begin to see it applied to a very real situation. Yes, the verses apply to my life, but a clarity came when I could see that my God loves to set the modern day slaves free and He is doing it! What is impossible for man truly is possible with God!

Pray today for Manna and girls like her who need to experience freedom from the abuse and oppression they have dealt with.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God... Isaiah 61.1-2

Labels: Justice, Scrapbooking