Jonathan
Last week we had an interesting night with the street boys. Heavy to say the least. We went down to the basketball couts, our normal meeting place, Ashley, Faith and I sat to pray for the evening. As we prayed and listened to the Lord, we felt reaffirmed to continue to speak truth over the boys.
When we finished praying we noticed that the boys were gathered in the bushes across the road- something was up. Ashley got up to check out the situation. Then from out of the bushes one of our boys, Jonathan, who is about thirteen years old came stumbling to the curb. The Spirit led me to go sit with him. He was moaning, crying and heaving… gasping for breath. His eyes were swollen and he was obviously infuriated. The usual inscentive for this sort of reaction is that someone has stolen the glue that they huff to get high off of. I asked him plainly, “Jonathan, did someone steal your glue?” He was so upset, so angry he could hardly breath. He was quivering, I put my hand on his back to pray for him and he started vomiting. He was hysterical. In a fit of rage he got up and tried to bound away and dodge me… the Spirit compelled me to follow. He walked all over, trying to dodge and get away; in between breaths he would cuss me out and try to avoid me.
After he realized that he wasn’t going to get rid of me in his fury he went over to the bushes, where the other boys were, and grabbed a glue box from one of the older boys. He was furious. Jonathan was clinging to the glue as was Deon, the older boy then another of the older boys joined in the fight for glue. Never have I seen such a death grip… these boys would not let go of the glue. Faith, Ash and I tried to interviene and take the glue but none would budge. Finally words came out, “In the name of Jesus let go!” Release. It wasn’t dramatic but apparent.
Jonathan walked across the street, I turned to see who was where among the chaos when I turned to look at Jonathan one of the older boys, who was in the threesome fight for glue, had him by the collar pulling back his right fist to go in for a hit. Fire and the Spirit of the Lord, I jumpedin and yelled, “you will stop.” They stopped after being pushed away.
Jonathan was on the dodge again. I followed relentlessly. He sat by a fence, I prayed for him. Something wasn’t right. He was still moaning and heaving and gasping for breath. He got angry as we sat and got up to play another game of dodge. I followed persistantly and adamantly. He could cuss me out all he wanted but I wouldn’t leave and I was sure to tell him so.
Finally he sat against a brick wall, i sat next to him. His knees were against his chest, his head between his knees and his hands tightly clinched over his ears. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I prayed to the best of my abaility, I prayed his hand off of his ears and prayed some more… as prayers were lifted up his breathing steadyed and he calmed down. I prayed until I couldn’t pray anymore. I asked God what to do.
“Just speak truth over him.”
I held him tight and by the leading of the Lord I spoke. With the passion from the Spirit I told Jonathan of my love for him. I told him of Jesus passion and with my heart spoke of the gospel. I told him about who he was, and of the life and fun that God out in him and I spoke of the glue and how it completely turns him into a different person. I told him that Ashley, Faith, Tiffany, Matt, Coach and I loved him but above our love Jesus loved him even more. He was holding my hand though it all and i was ducking to see his face… he had stopped moaning, his eyes cleared and he had real tears of truth streaming down his face. Peace. The Lord did what was needed to be done.
I hugged hime with his permission and squeezed him as tight as I could and kissed his head; my heart was filled with what could only be the love of the Father. I asked if he wanted some alone time and he nodded and I went to join the other boys.
The Lord has victory over darkness. Victory over addiction. In the name of Jesus I claim these boys as his. Jesus relentlessly pursue them.
