Breaking Chains

So right now I am suppose to be working on this online class but I cant wait to tell you about all that has been happening this past week. Since coming back to Togo there have felt the spiritual heaviness on or around the ship. There has been an increased level of precautions needed while going out due to safety issues, we have had long term crew unexpectedly have to leave due to illnesses, we have had families have to leave for the same reason, we have had a lot of our crew that have been unable to sleep at night, and we have had a lot of very sick patients in the hospital. I could feel the heaviness in this place and had asked a few of my prayer warriors to be praying for Mercy Ships, the crew/dayworkers, and all the patients and Togolese people.
Well talk about answered prayer. Last week while I was working on the ward I had a very sick 4-month-old little boy (Nathanael). He had a cleft lip repair done but was now aspirating his food every time he went to eat. Night after night I stayed up with him praying that God would strengthen his little body and open up his precious lungs. Every night he would wake up crying and would be very VERY hard to settle. I would do my best to settle him but finally after he had woken up ALL the other patients I would take him out and walk with him in the hallways.
Well the other day I was talking to one of my friends and we were talking about the 'heaviness' of the ship. She then told me to be praying extra protection over not only myself but also over the patients and other nurses on the wards. I asked her why and she said because there were currently a couple voo doo priests staying on the wards as patient caregivers. She then went on to tell me that the prior week, one of them had turned his heart over to Jesus. WOW I thought! She then said that there was another voo doo priest that was in bed A ward. Joy filled my heart when I heard this because the priest she was referring too, was only two beds away from Nathanael. I thought about the past few days and nights in which the doctors and nurses had been pouring their love and wisdom on to this little boy trying to get him better. But then I thought about how amazing God is in using all things for his glory and how God had strategically placed that voo doo priest TWO beds away from the sickest patient in that ward. God wanted him to see what being the hands and feet of Jesus truly meant. Two days later, that voo doo priest, gave his life to Jesus! Praise GOD!!
Today I went to church at a nearby fishing village. I heard a sermon about honoring the presence of God in your life and also with your household. As I pondered what that means for me, I thought about the voo doo priests that had accepted Jesus. I thought about the immeasurable amount of chains that were broken, as these men turned from their evil ways and instead turned their lives over to Jesus. Each one of these voo doo priests had multiple wives and many children and we pray that as they honor God with their lives and their households their families will come to know Christ as their Father and King.
As I thought about all these chains breaking a corny smile broke across my face. God is truly our victor and that the devil has no hold on us. Sitting in the church surrounded by my family of Christ I thought the day couldn't get any better. Well guess what? One of my fellow crewmembers got up and asked if there was anybody in the church, that day, that didn't know Jesus yet but would like to give their life to Him. After a few still minutes one by one six people stood up. A young mom, a young husband, two older women, and two older men. I could hear the chains breaking all around Togo. The devil has no hold on us as long as we continue to live our lives for Christ!!
I know I have written this before on a past post but I am going to write it again. The devil hates what we are doing, not only here in Africa, but all over the world. He knows that our God is more powerful than he will ever be so instead he throws things at us to distract and frustrate us; worry, anxiety, fear, gossip, judgment, etc. the list could go on and on.
But God is our victor and He is with us always. Be on your guard and stand firm in your faith (Eph 6: 10-18)
I pray that each and every one of you reading this will be blessed. I pray that you would not let the devil and his schemes thwart you from doing what God has called you to do. I pray that no matter what situation you are going through that you look to the character of God and know that He is with you and he loves you. I pray that you will be encouraged knowing that as you live your life for Christ, you are breaking chains everyday. Today is a day to break some of the devil’s chains!!