A Prayer for the Persecuted

Father,

Somewhere today our brother sits alone languishing behind cold iron prison bars.

Somewhere today our sister has fallen to her knees beside the lifeless body of her       husband, murdered for preaching Jesus.

Somewhere today a church secretly gathers to worship You, singing in hushed tones             with hearts listening for Your still, small voice all the while ears taking note     of every footfall outside the door.

To these you have especially promised the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:10-11)

They have joined the great congregation of heaven’s heroes.

We ask that you might fill their hearts with the joy that is rightfully theirs.  May their                joy overflow with endless praise. (Matthew 5:11)

Help them to love - love even their enemies. (Matthew 5:43)

                Help them to pray – pray even for their persecutors. (Matthew 5:44)

Let what they do be a reflection of You. (Matthew 5:45)

Grant them the grace to follow in Jesus steps on this path of suffering. (1 Peter 2:21)

                Free them from acting sinfully against those who sin against them. (1 Peter 2:22)

                Give them mastery over their words towards those who speak evil against                            them. (1 Peter 2:23)

                Deliver them from the bitterness and defensiveness that would make them                            threaten harm to those who harm them. (1 Peter 2:23)

Rather, give them a heart that rests and trusts in you and the knowledge that you     judge all things justly. (1 Peter 2:23)

May their suffering be not wasted.

                Let them fill up the sufferings of Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5)

                Let their faces appear as the faces of angels to those who persecute them.              (Acts 7:56)

                May their persecutors feel as though they kicking against thorns. (Acts 9:5)

                May those who oppose them join them. (Acts 9:15)

                May the persecutors of the gospel become the proclaimers of the gospel.                 (Acts 9:20)

                Let their wounds and tears attract others to you rather than repel them                       from you. (Philippians 2:12-13)

May their suffering further the gospel of the Kingdom, and the price they pay have      eternal reward. (James 1:12

These things we pray according to your will and in the name of the One who suffered for us that we might have life.

Amen.