TODAY’S PROPHETIC WORD
When we are obedient to the call of Jesus on our life, we are an extension of the King of kings. We can bring His pure, sweet love into any situation and change the atmosphere that brings Heaven to Earth. Romans 8:38-39 tells us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. We have the power of the Lord to show people how much He loves them.
A MILE IN HIS SHOES — PART 1
It was a particularly punishing day in the trash dumps of Matamoros, Mexico. In my opinion, this is truly Hell on earth and no other trash dump (and I’ve been in many) compares in stench or in hopelessness. Toxic waste, seeping refuse, including shrimp and fish guts, and soiled toilet paper — they don’t flush toilet paper in Matamoros — were brewing together on a 100-plus degree day. The fumes were festering, but the slaves worked on.
Yes, slaves in modern-day Mexico searching the waste for anything of value they could use to pay their debt to the cartels.
It would be easy to look at this mess and be impressed with the evil of it. It would also be easy to become paralyzed with depression and never make a move against this evil. That’s not me. I was taking on Hell with a water pistol!
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:38-39
Handing out cold water and food to a long line of filthy folks, I saw a man who changed my life forever. His name was Alexander. He had worked as a drug runner and low-level hit man for the cartels. Fast cars, nice clothes and the allure of power were a no-brainer for a guy who hated being powerless. That life was over. Involved in a shootout, Alexander’s spinal column was severed, leaving his legs useless and him helpless.
The very cartels he served came after him for debt. Afraid she would be forced into prostitution or her children would be held for ransom, his wife divorced him and left.
Unable to escape the cartel, the dump or his wheelchair, Alexander became a slave. His shoeless feet would drag through the trash and terrible infection had set in. He didn’t care. He couldn’t feel them anyway. He was completely without hope.
“Hey, man. Why aren’t you wearing any shoes?” I asked. “If I got you some shoes, would you wear them?”
“It doesn’t matter. I have feet like an elephant anyway,” he answered.
BAM! God shouted the words at me — “feet like an elephant.” It was prophetic. It was something I said about myself all the time because my feet are as wide as they are long, and the Holy Spirit knew it.
I pulled off my size 13 EEE shoes and put them on Alexander’s feet. When the shoes fit precisely, I knew it was Jesus. It was a very cool, very personal miracle for both of us. All it took was something very simple. One quiet act of goodness.
Alexander gave his heart to Jesus that day because he was able to have hope in God’s goodness. Good overcomes evil.
Read tomorrow for the rest of Alexander’s amazing story and listen to the Spirit’s prompting today. There is someone you can show God’s goodness to!