December Series: A prayer for SELF-IDENTITY

“Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence.”
― Henri J.M. Nouwen



I have searched and searched for statistics and facts about those that are recovering after being saved from the sex trade and I come up empty every time. I believe part of that is the protective nature of the programs that these people enter when freed...often times when I receive an email update from IJM or Dressember, they do not use the person's real name.

So today, let's pray for the self-identity of the people that are being and have been victimized.

"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."
1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Oh God,

you are a God of righteous anger and you say that if anyone destroys your temple, you will destroy him!

Father, we call out to you on behalf of the victims that are being destroyed daily by the hand of man. Help these people to know who they are in you, that they might remember their importance, and know your anger on their behalf.

I think of the time when you flipped the tables at the temple, Jesus! Flip the tables on the people that are destroying other humans.

Help the victims to know their importance to you. Help them to turn their faces to you and to take comfort in your truths for them.

May they know who they are in you and may they remember that you are their creator and because of that, THEY ARE GOOD.

I just love the verses for today's prayer. It reminds me of how righteously angry our God is on our behalf.

Join me again on Monday for another prayer!