Tillie’s Travail – Victor not Victim

It was a cold and windy Monday night and the prayer meeting was smaller than usual, perhaps the rains and lack of heat in the church building deterred people. But not long into the prayer time things warmed up considerably as Tillie began to call on the name of the LORD. On our way home, Patty and I agreed we could have listened all night to Tillie dialoguing directly with her Heavenly Father. Her powerful praise and intercession brought the fire of heaven into the cold building.

One of her declarations of praise was thanking her Father that we are Victors in Christ and not victims! Knowing Tillie’s background this was a powerful truth-one she had learned through seasons of great pain in her life. Tillie is a “colored woman,” which in South Africa is not viewed as a derogatory term. During the years of Apartheid (1948-1994) Tillie was identified as mixed race and she and her family were forced to live in an area designated for only colored people.

Years ago she was not permitted to reside in Fish Hoek. During this season of racial injustice she learned to travail in prayer-bringing the pain and injustice she experienced to a Just Father. Rather than turning this injustice to feelings of bitterness and anger she found solace in the victory of Christ and the power of the Cross. In Christ she had been forgiven of all her sins and therefore could forgive those who had wronged her. She could not do this in her own strength, but daily needed the power of the Holy Spirit to empower her to live in the victory of the cross. Crying out in travailing prayer became the source of her supernatural strength to live like Christ during one of the darkest periods in South Africa history.

It was during one of those prayer times where she felt in her spirit that one day she would own a home in Fish Hoek as a testimony to a Father who listens to the cries of His children. Today she not only owns a home in Fish Hoek, but her family also owns investment property.

We often see Tillie walking by Oceans Ministries property with an angelic glow on her face. We know exactly what she is doing as she covers the city in prayer during her many prayer walks. If I can catch up to her I ask her to cover Oceans in prayer as well, which she happily does.

Tillie’s life and testimony continually remind me to live under the victory of the cross. The enemy wants us to play the victim-to get bitter, stay angry, to get even until justice is served. This will not only destroy our souls, but it will bring chaos and destruction wherever we go.

Tillie knew victory was found by daily living before the throne of her Savior and crying out for His love to overflow her soul- so that she could love and pray for her enemies just like Jesus did on the cross.  She had learned that travailing prayer brings the heat of heaven’s love to earth which transforms everything.

Perhaps you are going through a season of darkness and even injustice. Keep travailing in prayer, asking the Spirit to reveal the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus, so that you too can testify to others you are a Victor not a victim!

“I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see the fear and put their trust in the LORD.“ Psalm 40:1-3