When members of the body of Christ suffer, the whole body suffers together (1 Cor 12:26). Even if we are geographically removed from those being persecuted, we can still draw near to them spiritually:
“Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body”
(Hebrews 13:3).
The apostle Paul himself was well acquainted with suffering and persecution. In fact, many of his pastoral letters were written while he was behind prison bars. Since Paul was a man acquainted with grief and persecution, we can learn how to pray for the persecuted by looking at his life, ministry, and pastoral letters. Here are 7 ways we can pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters, taken from the ministry of Paul:
1. Pray that they would see the grace of Christ as all-sufficient, magnifying God’s power in their weakness.
“‘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.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
2. Pray that they would treasure Jesus more than life itself.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
(Philippians 1:21)
“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus”
(Acts 20:24)
3. Pray that their unshakable joy in Christ would be a witness to their persecutors.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them”
(Acts 16:25)
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.”
(Philippians 1:27-28)
4. Pray that their future glory would overshadow their present afflictions.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
(Romans 8:18)
5. Pray that they would trust in God’s wisdom, strength, and deliverance—not their own.
“Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”
(2 Corinthians 1:7-9)
6. Pray that God would give them the right words to say as fearless ambassadors for Christ.
“and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
(Ephesians 6:19-20)
“Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison– that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”
(Colossians 4:2-4)
7. Pray that God would protect and deliver them to safety, according to His good and perfect will.
“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints”
(Romans 15:30-31)
“At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.”
(Philemon 1:22)
Susan says
August 9, 2014 at 2:13 amGreat direction for anyone who wishes to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank you
Sandy says
August 11, 2014 at 5:00 pmI can`t wait to start praying for my pastors
Great!!!!!
Chery McBride says
August 9, 2014 at 5:58 amDear Chris,
Thanking God for speaking through you the wisdom of His word.
I have tried to pray for the persecuted and those in prison for Jesus’ name, but I don’t speak to the Lord with the fullness of what you’ve written here. Sometimes, in my hurry to see all that is going on today I push my prayers to the side and in the end forget entirely.
I am going to post this on Facebook as I think this will help many in their prayers for the prisoners and persecuted. We are going to see more and more persecution for Christ–it will be well if we have, in a nice concise format, a reminder of what to ask the Lord.
Thanks,
Chery McBride
Mary Hanlon says
August 9, 2014 at 8:29 amHas the BLB discontinued the audible pronounciation of a word?
Chris Poblete says
August 12, 2014 at 3:45 pmNo, it should still be working for you.
Victoria Block says
August 9, 2014 at 9:25 amThank you for the clarity and simplicity.
Daniel says
August 9, 2014 at 11:34 amExcellent points! And a much needed reminder that sharing a post on Facebook or forwarding an email *about* persecution is certainly not the same thing as participating *with* those being persecuted.
Celeste Hill says
August 9, 2014 at 12:30 pmThank you for this, it was key to helping me prayer
For all our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ
Around our globe. I pray continued blessing upon you
As you seek to do His will for your life.
Until HE shouts
Tonya says
August 10, 2014 at 4:33 amThank you for this. My heart cries out for those in Iraq and all around the world that are persecuted for Jesus’ name. Just when I started to feel helpless, this helped me remember the best thing to do is go the Father with His Word and that we have the victory!
Diane says
August 10, 2014 at 7:27 amVery timely ! When I hear of people being persecuted and how they stand strong I am amazed and so glad that Christ is sufficient because I couldn’t be strong on my own.
Linda Hahn says
August 11, 2014 at 7:10 amThank you for this, it will help when I pray for those being persecuted. My son is in the Air Force and was part of the C-17 drop of food to the Christians in Iraq hiding in the mountains.
Blessings to you and your fellow workers,
Linda
Ro says
August 11, 2014 at 8:25 amThank you for this article. I remember our persecuted brothers and sisters in prayer often; however, as my heart aches for them in their affliction, I haven’t always known how to pray. Thank you again.
Phil says
August 12, 2014 at 5:40 amMy prayers are for our brothers and sisters in Isreal. These are the last of the last days. We are in critical mass time is running out. The signs our Lord told us in Matt.24 are present now. Yes the persecuted need prayer as well but please beloved DO NOT FORGET ISREAL! I say this in love to all my fellow believer’s it is required of us to pray for Jerusalem!
Grace and Peace y’all
Jolene says
August 13, 2014 at 9:07 pmThank you Chris for your Biblical guidance. It is a starting point for most of us who want to pray fervently and effectively in these desperate situations. The joy of the Lord is our strength! Brothers and Sisters check out the Voice of the Martyrs,” I commit to pray” program… specific examples come to your e-mailbox weekly…
Jerry S. says
August 14, 2014 at 5:48 amJames Williams;
http://www.studylight.org/commentary/daniel/12-12.html
Using what we have been given to read in scripture and existing on this side of the event… we can only speculate about the answer to your question.
J.
Tom says
August 14, 2014 at 12:37 pmGood words. Good prayers. Great use of scripture to answer the question. I heard one time that the best prayer someone can pray is “God BLESS this person.” And use the word “bless” in all its full meaning – which I believe you outlined well with your 7 points above.
Thanks.
Daniel Howell says
August 16, 2014 at 8:28 amThis is right on time for me, as recently i was praying for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted in Mosul Iraq the islamic state (ISIS)