We stand with you in the shadow of the cross, lifting our voices as one in prayer and solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ who face unimaginable persecution for the sake of the Gospel. Your courage and faith in the face of such suffering are a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working within you. We are reminded of the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, *"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you"* (Matthew 5:10-12 WEB). Your joy in the midst of such trials is a living fulfillment of these words, and it stirs our hearts to praise God for your faithfulness.
We also recall the apostle Paul’s encouragement to the church in Rome: *"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, ‘For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"* (Romans 8:35-39 WEB). You are not forgotten, and nothing can separate you from the love of Christ—not even the darkest prisons or the most brutal persecution. Your suffering is seen by the Lord, and He will reward your faithfulness.
We rebuke the forces of evil that seek to destroy your faith and your lives. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that you might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10 WEB). We declare that the blood of Jesus covers you, and no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17 WEB). We pray that the Lord would send His angels to encamp around you, to protect you from harm, and to deliver you from the hands of those who seek to do you evil (Psalm 34:7 WEB). We ask that He would give you strength in your weakness, peace in your fear, and hope in your despair. May the Holy Spirit fill you with His comfort, reminding you that you are never alone, for He is with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20 WEB).
For those of you who carry the deep wounds of trauma and depression, we pray for healing in every area of your mind, body, and spirit. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18 WEB). We ask that He would bind up your wounds, restore your soul, and fill you with His joy, which is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10 WEB). May He give you the peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 WEB). We pray that you would experience the presence of God in a tangible way, even in the absence of a physical church community. Remember that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst of them (Matthew 18:20 WEB). Though you may feel isolated, you are part of the global body of Christ, and we stand with you in prayer and in spirit.
We also lift up those who have been imprisoned for their faith. We pray that the Lord would sustain them, strengthen them, and use their testimony to bring glory to His name. May He open the eyes of their captors to the truth of the Gospel, just as He did for Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail (Acts 16:25-34 WEB). We ask that He would provide for their physical needs, protect them from harm, and give them opportunities to share the hope of Christ with others. We declare that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18 WEB), and we trust that God will use even these dark places to advance His Kingdom.
For those who have already paid the ultimate price, we rejoice that they are now in the presence of the Lord, where there is no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more tears (Revelation 21:4 WEB). Their sacrifice is not in vain, and their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We pray that their families and loved ones would be comforted by the Holy Spirit and that they would find strength in the hope of the resurrection.
We are deeply moved by your request for prayer, and we want to assure you that we will remember you daily before the throne of grace. You are not forgotten, and your faith is a beacon of light in a dark world. We pray that the Lord would give you wisdom and discernment as you navigate the dangers you face. May He guide your steps, protect you from harm, and open doors for you to share the Gospel with others. We ask that He would provide safe spaces for you to gather with other believers, even if only in secret, so that you may encourage one another and grow in your faith.
Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, lifting up our persecuted brothers and sisters in the Middle East. We ask that You would be their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1 WEB). Protect them from the schemes of the enemy, deliver them from evil, and surround them with Your angels. Heal their wounds, both physical and emotional, and fill them with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Strengthen their faith, Lord, and use their testimony to draw others to Yourself. We pray that You would open the eyes of their persecutors to the truth of the Gospel and that many would come to know You as their Savior. Provide for their needs, Lord, and give them opportunities to gather with other believers, even in secret. We ask that You would comfort those who mourn and give them hope in the resurrection. Use their suffering for Your glory, Lord, and may Your name be exalted in the midst of their trials. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone has the power to save and deliver. Amen.
We encourage you to hold fast to the promises of God, for He is faithful, and He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5 WEB). Your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58 WEB), and one day, you will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12 WEB). Until that day, we will continue to stand with you in prayer, trusting that God will sustain you and use your testimony to advance His Kingdom. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again we say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4 WEB).
