I began the year 2015 in the beautiful nation of Nepal. I experienced immense culture shock upon arriving in Nepal and a specific incident should have broken any admiration I had for this nation, but the Lord presented me with a decision, a choice per say.
Riding a bus on our way to Lumbini, Nepal, our bus stops for lunch. Many of us were under the impression that the bus would be locked, including myself. I always carry my stuff with me but for some reason in this instance I did not. I'm eating lunch, with a view of the van, and the Lord tells me to grab my cell phone. I immediately obey. After lunch, we get on the bus and a couple girls shriek claiming their iPads were stolen! Thinking about how mine was packed away and never once brought out, I was convinced it was safe. I open my bad to see a case sloppily stuffed in my backpack. I search throughout and realize my brand new iPad air 2 was stolen as well as the $50 that a doctor serving in Nepal graciously gave me when we met in Thamel.
I immediately cried, my heart hurt so much. I feel anger swelling within me and to be honest, in this moment, I grouped all Nepalis together in anger- they all were the same in this instance. Even though I knew that I saw one of the two thieves because he had been the lookout leaning on the second bus. Before I can utter a word or even think a thought I would regret, God tells me:
"In this moment you have a choice, Yesi. You can bless these young men or you can curse them."
My heart sinks for it seems like there would be no gratification in blessing them, but nonetheless I choose to bless them. The moment I start to bless them (as I'm crying), God starts downloading the original design of these two men and I go from blessing them to declaring truth and identity over them! It honestly was powerful and in that moment God gave me His whole heart and such deep love for the nation of Nepal and every one of His sons and daughters living in Nepal. Also in this incident, I got to see the value and power of CHOOSING JOY. I was not giving the enemy any grounds, but rather I was going to see the Kingdom of God advance and take back what satan stole!
To fast forward, God promised me He would restore everything that was stolen. Even though I had NO idea how He would do that, I've had enough challenges in my faith to know that just because I don't know does not come close to meaning that it will not come to pass. So I literally waited 10 months, constantly believing for restoration even though nothing was happening in the physical. On Christmas Eve, I open a gift and find a $50 dollar bill - exactly like the one that was stolen on my way to Lumbini. The night before I came back to DC, I was handed a plastic bag and told to look inside. Upon looking inside, my mouth literally dropped and my heart started racing. I could not believe what was in the bag- I literally kept saying "What is this? What is this? What is this?" It was a BRAND NEW iPad air and it was a gift for me!
I totally started to cry because the Word of the Lord was totally fulfilled! I've missed having the ipad but anytime it came to my mind I prayed for my brothers who stole it from me in a moment of desperation. I waited and believed so long for this, and I want you to know God is faithful! He can be trusted!!! He literally never fails!!!
I'm not sure what the enemy has stolen from you- and it may not be something materialistic. It could be a relationship, it could be your innocence, it could be ANYTHING! But remember that the Lord restores what the enemy steals away! The Lord WILL fulfill what He promises you. Don't be discouraged by the enemy, do not be discouraged because you don't see anything happening! The Word of the Lord does not return void. God is not a man that He will change His mind. He is the restorer. He is almighty. He is for you. He loves you. He is taking care of you. He is working all things out for your good.
Riding a bus on our way to Lumbini, Nepal, our bus stops for lunch. Many of us were under the impression that the bus would be locked, including myself. I always carry my stuff with me but for some reason in this instance I did not. I'm eating lunch, with a view of the van, and the Lord tells me to grab my cell phone. I immediately obey. After lunch, we get on the bus and a couple girls shriek claiming their iPads were stolen! Thinking about how mine was packed away and never once brought out, I was convinced it was safe. I open my bad to see a case sloppily stuffed in my backpack. I search throughout and realize my brand new iPad air 2 was stolen as well as the $50 that a doctor serving in Nepal graciously gave me when we met in Thamel.
I immediately cried, my heart hurt so much. I feel anger swelling within me and to be honest, in this moment, I grouped all Nepalis together in anger- they all were the same in this instance. Even though I knew that I saw one of the two thieves because he had been the lookout leaning on the second bus. Before I can utter a word or even think a thought I would regret, God tells me:
"In this moment you have a choice, Yesi. You can bless these young men or you can curse them."
My heart sinks for it seems like there would be no gratification in blessing them, but nonetheless I choose to bless them. The moment I start to bless them (as I'm crying), God starts downloading the original design of these two men and I go from blessing them to declaring truth and identity over them! It honestly was powerful and in that moment God gave me His whole heart and such deep love for the nation of Nepal and every one of His sons and daughters living in Nepal. Also in this incident, I got to see the value and power of CHOOSING JOY. I was not giving the enemy any grounds, but rather I was going to see the Kingdom of God advance and take back what satan stole!
To fast forward, God promised me He would restore everything that was stolen. Even though I had NO idea how He would do that, I've had enough challenges in my faith to know that just because I don't know does not come close to meaning that it will not come to pass. So I literally waited 10 months, constantly believing for restoration even though nothing was happening in the physical. On Christmas Eve, I open a gift and find a $50 dollar bill - exactly like the one that was stolen on my way to Lumbini. The night before I came back to DC, I was handed a plastic bag and told to look inside. Upon looking inside, my mouth literally dropped and my heart started racing. I could not believe what was in the bag- I literally kept saying "What is this? What is this? What is this?" It was a BRAND NEW iPad air and it was a gift for me!
I totally started to cry because the Word of the Lord was totally fulfilled! I've missed having the ipad but anytime it came to my mind I prayed for my brothers who stole it from me in a moment of desperation. I waited and believed so long for this, and I want you to know God is faithful! He can be trusted!!! He literally never fails!!!
I'm not sure what the enemy has stolen from you- and it may not be something materialistic. It could be a relationship, it could be your innocence, it could be ANYTHING! But remember that the Lord restores what the enemy steals away! The Lord WILL fulfill what He promises you. Don't be discouraged by the enemy, do not be discouraged because you don't see anything happening! The Word of the Lord does not return void. God is not a man that He will change His mind. He is the restorer. He is almighty. He is for you. He loves you. He is taking care of you. He is working all things out for your good.