Today’s news reports that at least 100,000 Christians have left Egypt since March. These fleeing Christians are the wealthier of the Coptic Christians who could afford to seek safety, but more of our brothers and sisters don’t have a way to leave the country. They still face danger. Let’s remember them and other suffering parts of Christ’s body in prayer. (You’ll find links to stories after the prayer.)

Merciful God Who loves us, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  

          Our hearts cry out to you for our brothers and sisters around the world who are being tortured and killed for their beliefs. Teach us how to pray effectively since we’ve never experienced what they’re going through. We’ve never felt the depth of fear and desperation that come with persecution. Please guide us as we pray.

Lord, knowing that you answer every prayer asked in the name of your Son Jesus’, and believing that every Christian around the world is precious in your site, we ask for endurance and swift release for those in prison. We pray comfort and safety for Christians who have lost parents and children and spouses. We ask supernatural peace for the ones whose pulse pounds with fear at the sound of a footstep. We plead for courage for the Christians who know they haven’t the strength to stand without your help. Help them all, Jesus! Keep them from the evil one.

We pray for the Christians who are denied jobs simply because others know they believe in you. Please supply a way for them to work and feed themselves and their families. Lift their heads and give them hope. Release them from worry by showing them how to trust in you. Prompt good people who aren’t Believers to have sympathy and lend a hand, just as you prompted so many to help Jews in WW II.

Thank you that a few of our brothers and sisters can leave places where they aren’t safe, but we know that many more will have to stay. Supernaturally open their eyes to believe in the good they are accomplishing for your kingdom even as they suffer.

Lord, our hearts break as we pray this, but we know you’ll be with them. You’ll never leave them or forsake them.

Your Word says we are all one body. Part of our own body is suffering. We who are blessed with safety and security feel helpless to do anything to help them, but we are not. Prayer works miracles. Thank you for giving us the gift of prayer. Don’t let us forget to keep praying. Amen.

 Supporting verses:

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:12,13

“I do not ask that you take them out of this world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” John 17:15

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” John 15:16

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5c

Links:

Today’s ANS news story on Egyptian exodus of Christians:   http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2011/s11090177.htm

Story and photos from 10-9-11 The Christian Post where 200 Christians were wounded and 26 killed during an attack on a church:

http://global.christianpost.com/news/attack-on-egypts-coptic-christians-leave-26-dead-200-wounded-photos-57745/

Sudan bishop pleads for prayer against genocide:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/pray_for_the_persecuted_church/2011/06/sudan-christians-facing-genocide-bishop-pleads-for-worldwide-prayer.html

Abba Father, Creator of the Universe, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

               You thought of us while your Spirit hovered over the formless mass that became our earth -- before you spoke the first word of creation. Ideas darted and simmered in your mind and you saw our faces and desired relationship with us. Even then. Even before we ever were.

Because you wanted relationship, you created us with the ability to choose our destiny. To decide to return your love -- even though you knew we could never fully understand your agape love. Never really return it.

You were Immanuel, God with us. You walked with the first humans in the garden, speaking with them face to face. Loving them fervently. Continuing to love them after they chose separation from you.

We can’t comprehend that kind of love. We don’t ‘get’ why you still wanted relationship with Mankind. But you did. You still do.

And because you still pursue relationship with us, you sent your Son to the cross, and now his Spirit lives inside each of us who believe in you. You long for us to love you and acknowledge you with our words and thoughts. Your heart beats with eagerness when we look to you. When we turn away we break your heart.

Teach us to love you, Lord. Really love you. Prevent us from focusing on other things and allowing our love for you to fade. Soften our hearts. Increase our faith. Open our eyes to who you are and ways we can please you. Teach to pursue you with fervor. Help us rest and allow you to fill us with contentment so we can enjoy your love. Remind us to magnify and revere your name. Nudge us to speak your praises. We love you, Lord, and we pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

Supporting verses:

“. . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” Ephesians 1:4a

“And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Genesis 3:8a

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you with his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

Taken from the book Prayers for Troubled Times by Jeannie St. John Taylor, AMG Publishers. 

Thank you, dear God, for you love, your mercy, and your promises. Calm our minds and hearts today as rumors abound concerning terrorist plots, schemes, and activities. We feel overwhelmed with the terrorists’ immense hatred directed toward our country and toward us as Americans and Christians.

       O God, we need your help. Replace our fear with faith. Replace our dismay with hope. Help us focus our eyes and thoughts on you instead of what a terrorist could do to harm our loved ones or us. We want to fix our thoughts on you and your goodness rather than on the evil of terrorism in our world this day. We want to set our sights on your promises rather than any fears of what “might” happen in the event of a terrorist attack.

       You are our God, and we trust you will keep every one of your promises. Place your perfect peace within us as we focus our minds on you. Strengthen us and help us, no matter what happens. Don’t let us be overcome with worry or despair. Let your love and mercy always triumph over evil, hatred and injustice. Help us in times of trouble.

       You are all we need this day. You will hold our lives, our families, and our country in your hand. Now help us rest in your strong right hand and lean on your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Amen. 

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Find several ways to use the Bible to help you pray on my Jeannie St. John Taylor blog at http://jeanniestjohntaylor.com/ 

O God of the Ineffable Name, the Great I AM, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

           You are a God who hides himself -- for our protection since human flesh is not capable of looking on your face and surviving. But because you want us to know you, you continuously reveal yourself in Creation. The changing colors of the clouds, the thunder of waterfalls and the multitude of stars have shouted your name since the beginning of time.

We hear you in the whisper of  breeze in the trees. Sense your presence in the sweet incense of cherry blossoms. We long for you even if we don’t know what we’re longing for. Even when we simply feel the emptiness of separation because we’re focusing on wrong desires and striving to meet our own needs instead of asking you to meet our needs.

Come fill us with the flow of you love, Holy Spirit. Help us know you are always available and waiting for us to call out to you. Show us how to quiet our hearts and trust you to handle things we can’t handle. Pry our fingers loose from control of our own lives and those around us. Teach us to empty ourselves of self-effort and open ourselves to you so you can heal us in mysterious ways we don’t understand. Give us your peace that passes beyond understanding. Remind us that when we don’t have words to express our deep ache, your Spirit prays for us with groanings too deep for words – and you hear. And answer.

We praise your holy name and thank you for your faithful love! Amen.

Supporting verses taken from the ESV Bible:

“Truly, you are a God who hides himself.” Isaiah 45:15

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within.” Psalm 131:2

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26, 27

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