In October 2019 a friend of mine called Cameron got in touch to ask if he could commission me to write and perform a poem for a Christmas Concert in London. The concert would be raising money for charity to support the work of International Justice Missions which rescues children who have been sold into slavery in Ghana.
Cameron asked me if I might be able to write a poem based around the theme of “Freedom” and sent me some links to watch so that I could know more about the cause I would be writing for. Watching the videos and hearing the testimonies of some of the children who have already been rescued by IJM was difficult viewing to say the least. My heart absolutely broke at the appalling crimes committed against these children and I soon found myself praying through tears for the situation.
Before long my prayer began to turn into a poem and “Freedom For All” is what came from my heart that evening.
O Father, how it grieves the heart to witness so much strife,Cameron asked me if I might be able to write a poem based around the theme of “Freedom” and sent me some links to watch so that I could know more about the cause I would be writing for. Watching the videos and hearing the testimonies of some of the children who have already been rescued by IJM was difficult viewing to say the least. My heart absolutely broke at the appalling crimes committed against these children and I soon found myself praying through tears for the situation.
Before long my prayer began to turn into a poem and “Freedom For All” is what came from my heart that evening.
To see such callous disregard for precious human life!
How deeply it must wound Your soul to see what man has done,
To look at Your creation and regard what we’ve become.
Such vile abominations are committed every day,
What levels of depravity to steal a child away!
Torn from friends and family, from home and loving arms.
Thrown into a world of fear, of danger and of harm.
Robbed of childhood innocence, of safety and of care.
The thought of such injustice is beyond what I can bear.
These years should be defined by love, by guidance and protection
Not harsh and cruel brutality, denied of all affection.
O mighty God, please intercede, protect them from above,
May they feel within their heart the power of Your love!
Send Your Holy Spirit as they call upon Your Throne,
Speak into their soul and let them know they’re not alone.
Jehovah Jireh, may they find in You a place to hide.
Meet their deepest needs O God, You’re faithful to provide.
Stick closer than a brother Lord and guide them through their story.
Do a mighty work divine and use this for Your glory!
Though they be surrounded by the darkness of the night,
May this serve to highlight more the goodness of Your light!
Send Your noble rescuers, guide them straight and true,
May these children always know, redemption came from You!
I plead for the afflicted Lord, heal the heartache there,
You’re a God of justice so I know You hear my prayer.
Restore to them the many years the locusts stole away,
Repair, renew, revive their hearts a little more each day.
Fill their lives with endless joy and bless their days with laughter,
May they grow to love You more and praise You ever after.
Let them always glorify their Saviour sacrificed,
May they wish to use their days to share the love of Christ.
A prayer for the oppressors Lord, convict them through and through!
Such wickedness and yet I know You died to save them too.
A challenge to accept but with this fallen world we’re in,
I know that they are captives too and bound by chains of sin!
Burn within their heart O Lord and shame them to their core!
Drive them to repentance! Let them cause this pain no more!
Give them not a moment’s rest and rob them of all peace,
Open up their eyes so that their evil deeds may cease!
Charge their hearts anew O Lord with awe for their Creator.
Make them fear the day that they will stand before their Maker!
Fill them with a reverence of immeasurable amount,
May they know the truth that You will hold them to account!
For You created every child within the secret place,
May they look upon each one and see their Maker’s face!
These children bear the image of their Saviour, High and Mighty.
Let them know this cruelty is offending the Almighty!
Taking Your creations Lord and treating them with shame,
Bring this evil to an end I ask in Jesus’ name!
We know that sin and wickedness were not part of Your plan,
You burn with righteous anger at the fallen ways of man!
Although we were created to praise and give You glory,
We chose to let rebellion infiltrate our story.
We could have known the peace of sweet communion with our King
Instead we chose enslavement and bondage to our sin.
When Adam erred against You and chose his fall from grace,
He sold us into slavery and doomed the human race.
Although it seems unjustified to share in Adam’s shame,
Placed in his position we would all have done the same.
How it must have saddened You to view these first offences,
Knowing this decision had such dire consequences.
And yet we see within Your Word how much You love us still!
Leaving us condemned was not according to Your will.
For You, the true and living God who reigns throughout the ages
Came to Earth to set us free when Jesus paid sin’s wages.
Though we were taken hostage You sought our liberation,
You sent Your only Son and He proclaimed emancipation!
Behold, what kind of love is this? For though His death was cruel
Our Saviour took our punishment and paid the debt in full!
Praise to our Redeemer for He bought our vindication!
He sought to free the captives and bring all exoneration.
Let’s view the Cross of Christ and kneel before Redemption’s Tree,
Where love and justice met to break sin’s chains and set us free!
Your goodness we proclaim aloud, Your mercy we avow,
May every tongue confess Your name, let every knee bow down.
And so we look towards the day when evil is demolished,
We long for Your return when sin is finally abolished!
You’ll wipe away our every tear and rid this world of pain,
Our spirits yearn to see the start of Christ’s eternal reign!
Come Lord Jesus! Come O Lord and bring an end to strife,
Let every soul now turn to You and choose eternal life!
Help every heart respond this day and may we hear Your call,
Glory in the highest! There is freedom there for all!
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:21-22
“For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
Galatians 5:1
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
Luke 4:18-19
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Romans 6:17
“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.”
Revelation 21:4
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 22:20
“He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”
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