Prayer for the Persecuted

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” (Acts 12:5)

Persecution for your faith can come in many different forms and from many different places.  In the Western church we have been blessed to be able to boldly share and practice our faith without fear of physical persecution.  Yet sadly, across the world, there are many who do not have that privilege. Around the world, many believers are persecuted, imprisoned, even killed, for their faith.  Since Jesus laid down His life, millions of Christians have become martyrs.  Right now 200 million people face persecution for believing in Jesus and 60% of those people are children, according to Christians in Crisis International Ministry, a prayer advocacy ministry for persecuted believers.

In the book of Acts we see that the early church also went through severe persecution, not just from ‘Gentiles’ who were the ‘outsiders’, but even from fellow Jews!  Peter, as one of the early church leaders, had to bear the burden of a lot of persecution, as he was often the one boldly standing up for his faith and preaching the message of Jesus Christ.  Yet notice in the book of Acts that the believers prayed for Peter, not just for his release.

Often we think that praying for freedom from persecution, or from hard situations is the answer, but when we read of the prayers of the believers, we are challenged to perhaps refocus our prayers. Perhaps we should pray instead, that God may give the persecuted strength to endure, because even in the midst of persecution, something beautiful can happen.  Take for example, Paul and Silas’ imprisonment in Philippi, in Acts 16.  Through their imprisonment and an earthquake, the prison guard and his whole family were saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Today, if you are going through some hardships, persecution, or you know of someone who is, why not try praying that God would give them the strength to endure it and bring something beautiful from it; that God may be glorified.  After all, “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)  We might not always see the fruit of our suffering, but we can rest in the knowledge and peace, that God will always get the glory.

Don’t give up. Something great is about to happen! 

The New Testament was written to persecuted believers and it is filled with examples of how to pray for our brothers and sisters under attack.

Here are 5 examples from Ephesians:

1) Please pray persecuted believers would know the hope God gives (Ephesians 1:18).

2) Pray the Holy Spirit would strengthen them (Ephesians 3:16).

3) Please pray persecuted believers would know how much God loves them (Ephesians 3:17)

4) Pray they would know how to share the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).

5) Please pray persecuted believers would fearlessly tell others about Jesus (Ephesians 6:20).

To create additional ways to pray from the Bible, take any book from the New Testament (except the gospels). Search for verses with the word "pray."  Then use those verses to create prayer requests, just as in the 5 examples above.

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