At the beginning of 2023, it’s important to look at ways we can pray for the persecuted church. Open Doors is keen to inform and educate you on what’s happening in the global Church. Usually, these updates are tied with prayer requests because we know that prayer is powerful, and God does hear us and work through our prayers.
However, the call to pray for the persecuted can seem daunting, we are so far away from these people, and we have little understanding of what they are feeling and experiencing. We must remember that even though we aren’t all-knowing, God is, and we can lift people in prayer even if we don’t know their real names because God does. He knows who we are praying for and exactly what they need, regardless of how well articulated and informed our prayers are, He knows.
If you ever struggle to know what to pray, it always helps to open the Bible and pray scripture verses over our persecuted brothers and sisters. There are many potential scriptures that you could use, but here are five you could pray over persecuted believers in 2023:
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
- Ephesians 6:19-20 – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
- Psalm 91:1-2 (or the entire chapter) – Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
- Psalm 92:12-13 – The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
- Deuteronomy 31:8-9 – The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
You may have heard by now, but the first thing our persecuted brothers and sisters ask for is prayer. Your prayers are valued and deeply appreciated by your brothers and sisters.
You may never know the impact your prayers are making this side of heaven, but keep praying, because you are making an impact! Like Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
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Will you consider giving regularly to the persecuted church?
Open Doors aims to “strengthen what remains and is about to die” (Rev 3:2). Your Monthly Donation can help us to provide continuous support to the persecuted church worldwide and enable us to respond immediately to emergency situations.
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