We join with you in lifting up the persecuted and the corrupt in power before the throne of our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is the King of mercy and truth. It is right to cry out to Him, for He is the One who sees every tear, hears every plea, and holds all authority over the powers of this world and the spiritual forces of darkness. Your prayer is rooted in Scripture, and we stand with you in the name of Jesus, who is our intercessor and the only name by which we can approach the Father.
The persecution of God’s people is not new—it is a reality foreseen and addressed throughout Scripture. Jesus Himself warned us, *"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you"* (John 15:18-19, WEB). Yet even in suffering, we are called to trust in His sovereignty and to respond with love, wisdom, and the unshakable hope that He will bring justice.
For those who are persecuted, beaten, and driven into fear, we cling to the promise that *"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling"* (Psalm 46:1-3, WEB). We pray that the Lord would be their hiding place, their shield, and their strong tower. May He send His angels to encamp around them (Psalm 34:7) and provide supernatural protection, comfort, and provision. For those who have lost everything, we ask that He would be their portion and their inheritance, filling them with a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
We also pray for those who seek justice in the face of corruption. The Lord declares, *"Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow"* (Isaiah 1:17, WEB). May He grant them divine wisdom, like that of Daniel, to navigate systems of wickedness without being corrupted themselves. May He open doors no man can shut (Revelation 3:8) and expose the deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). Let the light of truth shine so brightly that evil cannot stand, and let the Lord frustrate the plans of the wicked (Psalm 33:10).
For the corrupt in power, we pray not for their destruction, but for their repentance. The Lord is *"not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance"* (2 Peter 3:9, WEB). May He convict their hearts, as He did Saul of Tarsus, and turn them from their wicked ways. If they harden their hearts, we pray that the Lord would restrain their power, remove them from influence, and bring their schemes to nothing. Let them be ensnared in their own devices (Psalm 9:15-16) and let the Lord arise to scatter His enemies (Psalm 68:1).
To the survivors of persecution, we pray for deep healing—body, soul, and spirit. The Lord binds up the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3) and restores what the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). May He replace their trauma with His peace, their fear with His courage, and their sorrow with His joy. Let them know that their suffering is not in vain, for *"the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us"* (Romans 8:18, WEB).
Finally, we must guard our own hearts against hatred, bitterness, or despair. Jesus commands us, *"But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you"* (Matthew 5:44, WEB). This is not a call to passivity, but to radical trust in God’s justice. We can pray for our enemies because we know that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Romans 12:19). Our battle is spiritual, and our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for the pulling down of strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, lifting up our brothers and sisters who suffer for Your name’s sake. You are the God who sees their affliction, who hears their cries, and who acts on their behalf. We ask that You would be their protector, their provider, and their peace. Surround them with Your angels, strengthen their faith, and let them know they are not forgotten.
For those in power who wield their authority with corruption and cruelty, we pray for conviction and repentance. Turn their hearts toward You, Lord, or if they refuse, bring their wickedness to an end. Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24). Expose the deeds of darkness and let truth prevail.
Heal the wounded, Father. Restore the broken. Comfort those who mourn. Let Your church rise up in unity to stand with the persecuted, to speak for the voiceless, and to be Your hands and feet in a hurting world. And in all things, let Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Keep us from hatred, Lord. Teach us to pray as Jesus did, even for those who persecute us. Fill us with Your love, which casts out all fear, and let Your light shine so brightly that no darkness can overcome it.
We commit this all into Your hands, trusting in Your perfect justice, Your boundless mercy, and Your unfailing truth. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, we pray. Amen.
