November 6: International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

 


            This Sunday has been designated a special day of prayer for the Persecuted Church, but I challenge each of us to pray daily for our Christian brothers and sisters around the world who risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel. Last year, according to Open Doors USA, roughly 5,600 Christians were murdered, more than 6,000 were detained or imprisoned, and another 4,000-plus were kidnapped.  That’s an average of over 15 deaths, 16 imprisonments, and almost 11 kidnappings per day! Consider how many may die, be imprisoned, or be kidnapped on Sunday while we worship in peace and freedom!

            Those who are being persecuted never pray that the persecution be taken away but here are some prayer requests that they do have.

1.    Pray that those who imprison them will realize that Jesus must be real because He is the only one who can sustain the Christians during the torture and suffering they receive.

2.    Pray that the rotten prison food will taste good and will be enough to sustain them.

3.    Pray that their clothing, no matter how ragged, will protect them from the elements.

4.    Pray that beatings and torture will not weaken their bodies but will strengthen their faith.

5.    Pray that the Enemy will not overcome them or their families with despair and discouragement.

6.    Pray that prisons across China and other persecuted countries will become centers of revival.

7.    Pray that House Churches will be invisible to the police but visible to everyone else.

8.    Pray that Christians in government-sponsored churches will be bold in their faith.

9.    Pray that the prisoners’ children will not be ashamed of them but will stand firm in their faith.

10. Pray that the prisoners will feel God’s presence and that His peace will sustain them so that they will stand firm until the end!

For more resources, go to https://www.persecution.com/idop/ or check out The Voice of the Martyrs at https://www.persecution.com/. 

Our Christian brothers and sisters need us to be their voice and that begins with speaking to the Father on their behalf.  I hope you’ll join me as I’ll be praying from my porch!

Matthew 5: 11, 12

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