I only have a couple of moments right now, and then I’m off to have supper with one of the guys from the home (Ticua, for those of you who know him). But I wanted to ask you all to pray for the guys…both at the new place and at Miguel’s.

Something happened this week at Miguel’s and it’s really gotten me thinking. I can’t really get into it (and to be honest I don’t even know all the details) but suffice to say that a couple of the leadership guys who’ve been at the home for awhile have had some problems. And it’s just that it’s caused me to take a step back and wonder once again…why so many of these guys (and many of the girls from the girl’s home) are not experiencing the freedom and grace that God has for them. I can see it in the lives of guys who are living with me too. One or two of them are relatively stable, but most are still really struggling.  They haven’t dealt with or experienced freedom from the sin and bondage in their pasts.

It worries me for them. I have different theories about why this is happening, but ultimately it comes down to them understanding who they are in Christ and what that means for their lives. And many days it’s a battle. To help them understand and to see them break through the years of conditioning they’ve experienced. The lies that are bouncing around inside their heads, telling them exactly opposite to what God is telling them.  You try to explain to them who they are in Christ…how they’ve change…that they’re not the same guys they were before they received Christ…that it’s not just about sin but also about forgiveness and grace. It’s not that they don’t want to change, but…it’s always easier to believe the worst about yourself.  

I know that God has a plan and purpose for these guys. I believe that they can all experience the love…peace…grace…joy and freedom that God has for them. But they need to believe that too.

And that’s the struggle.  It’s only through the power of the Holy Spirit that these guys will ever experience all that God has for them.  So…please continue to pray.  The reality of their spiritual battles came home again this week.