“But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when they shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Cor. 3:13-17
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“Tonight you’re mine.” The thick smell of whiskey fills my lungs even as I turn my face. He ignores my obvious repulsion and reaches for my waist anyway.
“Charge me for the whole night with Skye and get us a bottle of your best champagne. We are celebrating tonight.” He winks at me as he hands the bouncer his credit card.
“What are we celebrating?” I try to keep the mood jovial and light.
“The beginning of a beautiful relationship.” He sneered as he plopped his body on the velvet couch, making himself as comfortable as if we were in his own living room.
“Sit here.” He patted the place beside him. “I won’t bite…unless you’re into that.” He gulped the last of his liquor as smooth as he was drinking water. I could feel him drinking in the sight of me while he did it.
I inched toward him slowly. I could see that this was going to be a long night of torture ahead for me and every delay helped sustain that moment of taking that full plunge into my personal hell.
“Okay.” The bouncer and waitress interrupted us before I arrived at the couch. I kept the small talk going with the waitress as she uncorked the bubbly elixir. The man with the credit card signed away enough cash to cover a decent mortgage.
The waitress turned to leave and the bouncer followed. I felt something pressing on my lungs—-all hope left with them. I was alone with the monster now.
I had tamed this type of beast before. Men just like him had sucked the very life out of me so hard that sometimes it took several days for me to recover. The brutal mental games and torment left invisible scars that no one could see, but I could feel.
Many of these rich men were sick men who seemed to get much pleasure by inflicting pain on their victims. They had plenty of money and very little mercy.
I thrust my leg out the door to signal to the bouncer that I had a high maintenance customer on my hands. I wanted him to be ready to move when I needed protection.
Nick was on it and walked by the door, pretending to do a routine sweep of the area. He peeked his head into the doorway. The presence of another human being invoked a cool breeze in the atmosphere. Nick was there to protect, but he was also there to make money. Unfortunately, he would protect whoever paid him the most. My funds were tied up until the end of the night because my credit lied in the hands of my perpetrator. I couldn’t pay off Nick. My heart dropped as I watched the man reach for his wallet. “What’s your name?” The man flipped his wallet open and handed his credit card back to the bouncer.
“My name is Nick. What would you like for me to do with this, sir?” He grabbed the card as if he was starving and it was the last piece of bread in Auschuwitz.
“Just call me Bobby. Put a few hundred on there for yourself. Consider it a going away present.” He smiles an obvious plastered grin. “And after I am done signing the receipt, I don’t want to see your face again. I’m with my future girlfriend here.” He leers at me again. “We need some alone time.”
Nick turns and leaves. I face the monster named Bobby. He looks serious and a bit more sober than a few minutes ago.
“I am going to make a proposal. If you are smart, you will grab this opportunity while it is here. I hate these places and I will not be back if you say no.” He takes a gulp of his champagne and hands me a glass. As slick as I can, without him noticing, I tap the liquid onto the carpet as he continues on. “I’m unhappily married. But, I have two kids and I’m not such a bad guy. I won’t leave them fatherless.” His eyes look heavy like a hound dog. I cannot tell if it is from actual sadness, or it just the result of one too many drinks. “If you come with me, I will take you out of this place. I will set you up with your own apartment and everything that you will ever need or want. You will be on my company payroll—hey, you will even get health insurance. I’m giving you a chance to get away from all this garbage.” He motions to the flickering lights of the stage. “You can’t do this forever you know. There is no future in it.” He leans back, gulps the remainder of his champagne and he loosens his tie.
Future. I imagine what my future would be like with this gross misrepresentation of a man. I only see a different kind of pain and torture. He puts in his feeble effort to be a gentleman and fills my empty champagne glass while staring at my chest.
I became a dancer to get free—financially free, free from men who used me and yet, ironically I was even more trapped and confused.
The day my life changed forever was the day I read the Bible and actually took it seriously. I read 2 Cor. 3:13-17 and took it literally. I walked away from everything I knew for a life of the unknown. I was so desperate for a something better than the life I had settled for. God never offered to pay my rent, an account with Neiman Marcus or any of the frills a man could dangle in front of a desperate woman.
He offered Himself, and I took it. It has been more than enough for me. The peace God gives is priceless. The hope I have is so rewarding and the joy that fills my heart by my personal relationship with the Almighty Himself is something my crude writing could never capture.
Trust God with your life. Hold out for His offer. Anything less is just not worth it.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
I have lied to myself and moved the lines of my moral and ethical boundaries so many times that I don’t even know what I believe in anymore.
I know I have confused myself because I have not been consistent in my beliefs. To subscribe to the belief of “everything” is to stand for nothing at all. I have committing to nothing, because I was afraid of what you would want or ask from me.
I cannot expect a life of power or victory without your help. This world is too wicked for me to come out in one sane piece—let alone a happy and productive person.
Lord, I walk away from every compromise and lie that I have told myself to get where I am today. I am clinging to the truth of your word and asking you to guide my steps. I promise to rely on you—not on drugs, alcohol or any other person to cover up the pain of growing up. I will face my demons head-on, because I have you by my side and that is enough.
Lord, protect me as I chose to go your way. With this new commitment, the enemy will try and get me to back down and compromise. I need your help not to take the bait. I will wait on you and I will obey your voice and yours alone. God help me. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verses: 2 Cor. 3:13-17
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan