Background story: On November 5, 2017 a heavily armed man walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and killed 26 people and injured 20 more until a neighbor got his gun and came to the defense of the people of the church and drove away the murderer. Other neighbors pursued the gunman, who ultimately murdered himself last. This is by no means the first or last or worst persecution of Christians even in recent times, but it is the inspiration for this prayer. The prayer below can be used by and for all Christians in any place in times of persecution.
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| Let not your hearts be troubled Jesus goes to prepare a place for you. |
Lord
Jesus, send us Your Holy Spirit to teach us Your Word, and remind us
of all that You have done to save us (John 14:26). Comfort Your
people with Your peace. Strengthen Your people in faith that we may
love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), bless and not curse them (Romans
12:14), that we may not be overcome by evil, but that we may overcome
evil with good (Romans 12:21). Open the eyes and the ears and the
hearts of this wicked generation to hear and believe Your Word that
they may repent and be healed (Isaiah 6:10).
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| The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. |
Blessed
Lord Jesus, You have called us to gather together to hear Your Word
and to receive Your gifts of forgiveness and salvation (Exodus
20:8-11). Strengthen Your people that even in places of great
persecution we may not give up meeting together, but that we may be
encouraged to trust in You even more as the Day of judgment
approaches (Hebrews 10:25). Send Your angels to protect all Your
people(John 17:11), that even in persecution, we may remain strong in faith,
trusting in Your love and forgiveness and salvation. Amen.
Bible Verses
Jesus said, “Blessed
are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Blessed are those
who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “And
this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all
that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my
Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in
him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “All
this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your
enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Do not be
overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
(Back)
(Back)
(The Lord) said, “Go
and tell this people: ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be
ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the heart of this people
calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they
might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with
their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said,
“Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than
his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
(Back)
(Back)
“So will it be
with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is
perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is
raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “Forgive
us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And
lead us not into temptation.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “You
are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they
put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In
the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your
good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus said, “I am
the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Praise the Lord,
O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your
sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires
with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Remember the
Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all
your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord
your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son
or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals,
nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but
he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
(Back)
(Back)
“Let us not give
up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us
encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.”
(Back)
(Back)
Jesus prayed, “Holy
Father, protect them by the power of your name”
(Back)
(Back)
Psalms 35, 69,
and 109 are good prayers in times of persecution, but remember that
Jesus endured the curses of our sin so that there is redemption in
Christ even for the murderers who persecute Christ’s beloved
people. You may pray that Christ’s enemies will be cursed temporally here on earth, but also pray that
they may be led to repentance and trust in Jesus as their savior from
sin, that they may become our brothers and sisters in Christ and
receive the salvation that Jesus won for them, too, on the cross.
Please share your thoughts and prayers by adding a comment below. I would love to hear from Christians throughout the world, so that I may pray with you and for you.
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