In Praise of Freedom

thankful thinking day 19

I am overwhelmed with an intense sadness for the victims of worldwide slavery (both work-related and sexual) and with anger towards the perpetrators. But it is the victims for whom I am asking your help today. I cannot even begin to imagine the world in which they live but I can imagine it's a living hell. And the sad part, as with many victims, they end up back in the very system that suppressed them --- because of drugs, because of fear of retribution, because of lack of a safe place to go and a means to make a living.

So I am asking for three things from you:

1. I am asking that you get on bended knee and pray to God our Father for their physical, emotional and spiritual safety.
2. I am asking you to raise your awareness to the $92billion dollar trafficking industry that enslaves 27 million people worldwide of which 2 million are children. www.ijm.org
   
3. I am asking that you forward this blog along to people you know who would care enough to pray, too.

Lord God, I am thankful for the freedom you have granted me in Christ. And I thank you for the lifestyle that I enjoy living in the United States of America. But Lord, my thankfulness is tinged with sadness and anger for those who neither know freedom in Christ, nor know freedom on earth among their fellow man. I am thankful that You are a God of compassion and burn with righteous indignation against those who would perpetrate injustice against others.

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil. (Psalm 5:3-4)

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises...His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him, he sneers at all his enemies. (Psalm 10)

But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. (Psalm 37:13)

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? (psalm 94:16)

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)

(God) will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy...and save them from oppression and violence, (for they) are precious to Him. (Psalm 72:12-14)