Resisting Evil

On Monday I wrote, among other things, how the Thoughts for Inspiration blog received hits from countries around the world—and about a comment from a sweet-looking girl who said she liked the blog. She looked like she was Thai.

I'd already thanked the girl, but on Tuesday I thought I should reply. I remembered that successful bloggers expand their numbers by making comments and by commenting on comments. So I scrolled back, found the comment, brought it up, and clicked on a porn site.

For five days Thoughts for Inspiration—dedicated to sharing glimpses of truth from God’s Word—provided a link to a porn site. Reality didn’t even register right away. I just knew I had to get it off. My little trauma was not being able to figure out how. I could have asked on a question board—which would be the same as announcing the porn site's location.

Yesterday—Wednesday—I decided to remove the specific posting in hope of removing the comments as well. I did, it did, and then I posted again. That worked on the blog site while messing up the RSS feed, but I was so relieved I laughed.

As a result of this, however, I’ve made two changes on all three blogs. To encourage openness, I removed a restriction related to being a registered google user. That was obviously ineffective anyway. But I installed the device that holds comments until I screen them and decide whether or not they should be posted.

I hate the idea of screening comments, but it feels right.

A sidelight of all this was my reaction to the people involved in porn—and to Thailand. I’ve read several accounts from both Christian and secular sources about human trafficking. They identified Thailand as a country where beautiful women and children are routinely sold for profit and sexual exploitation. I understood my angst was insignificant compared to the evil experienced by the victims—perhaps even the young girl pictured. Imagine being sold into a life of torment—and sometimes, parents sell their children in order to feed other members of their family—and sometimes, young girls sell themselves as a matter of survival. And imagine the misery of the hardened people who do the buying and selling.

Thailand has been added to my prayer list.

Praying for another country didn’t come out of the blue. When our youngest daughter was in Indonesia I prayed daily for Indonesia until she and her husband moved to the States. But, although my prayers had been intense—they lasted for a season. When our oldest son moved to the United Arab Emirates, I prayed for that country, and—those prayers lasted for a season. Last October we went to Ethiopia for our granddaughter’s baptism, and again I offered prayers for a country, but—they lasted for a season.

In December, when busy with the month's demands, it occurred to me I had stopped praying for these countries and that I should at least pray about praying for them. When I did, I felt God gave me a simple approach.

I can’t pray for them intensely on a regular basis, but I can pray for them simply—with a sentence or two—each day. And that’s what I’ve done. Even on days when I’m busy, I have time for a few sentences for Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and now Thailand.

It occurs to me that those sentences add up. I think I've become a dripping faucet like the widow who prevailed against an unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Hopefully, others are praying with me. Answers might be a long time a'coming. Maybe God will answer tomorrow. Whatever, He hears and is pleased.

I’m concerned about two things. One, because praying for these countries has been a private matter between the Lord and me—something I’m still establishing—I’m afraid sharing it openly will bring attention and pride. Two, I don’t think Satan knew I was doing it because I did it quietly. Now he’ll be on me with distractions, devices to move me away from the commitment.

If you’re a praying person, think about asking God if there is something specific you should pray for that would include resisting evil—for a country, a person, an industry, a political circumstance, a school—whatever—and see if it could become part of your life. Remember, you aren’t committing to lengthy, intense prayer. Many prayers add up. Especially if God initiates them.