Pray For Us
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Daily Reading: Acts 8
But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8.3-4)
Devotional Thought: Sometimes, it takes a desperate situation to get people out of the nest. When Stephen was martyred (Acts 7), the Church began to experience extreme persecution in Jerusalem. Because of that, they began to spread out to nearby cities and towns, seeking refuge in the homes of family, friends, and even strangers. They lost their homes, jobs, security, and most of their possessions.
We are seeing this again in that part of the world, as Christians are being forced to flee hostile and dangerous areas. Some of them are being swept out as part of the general population, while others are specifically targeted for their Christian faith. The following instructions from cru.org help us pray for persecuted Christians:
· How to Pray for Practical Needs:
o That persecuted believers would have access to a Bible.
o For believers who have been rejected by family and friends - for God to surround them with a new Christian family.
o For God to be an advocate for socially vulnerable women who have lost custody of their children.
o That God would provide persecuted believers with jobs and safe places to live.
· Because the New Testament was written to persecuted believers, it is filled with examples of how to pray for our brothers and sisters under attack. Ephesians instruct us to pray that...
o Persecuted believers would know the hope God gives (Ephesians 1.18).
o The Holy Spirit would strengthen them (Ephesians 3.16).
o Persecuted believers would know the depth of God's love (Ephesians 3.17).
o They would know how to share the gospel fearlessly (Ephesians 6.19-20).
Prayer: Pause right now and pray the above prayer for your brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for their faith.
Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73.21-28
21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,
22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.