Day 45: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Sri Lanka

We pray today for the believers in Sri Lanka. Church services can be expected to be interrupted by mobs of radicals who want their beliefs to be the only thing practices in the country. These are not small mobs, some have been in the thousands.

 

Of the population of under 20.3 million, there are an estimated 1.4 million believers. For more information check out Open Doors USA.

 

 

Father, we pray for Sri Lanka. We pray that those who want to worship you can do so without fear of mob interruptions. We pray for the reigning government that they would put a stop to the radical attacks of minority religions including Christianity.  Move among the leaders of Sri Lanka, soften their hearts to the Gospel and let change start from the top. We pray for peace among the people in Sri Lanka. Holy Spirit work miracles in the hearts of those who persecute the believers here. Amen

 

Day 40: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Djibouti

We pray today for the believers in Djibouti. Christianity has been a part of the nation for many years, yet the influence of neighbouring countries and family ties are generating much persecution for believers in Djibouti.

 

Of the population of 829,000, there are an estimated 50,000 believers. For more information check out Open Doors USA.

 

Father, we pray for Djibouti. Believers here are being refused jobs and opportunities, including community resources, we pray for a change in this situation. We ask that you change hearts of the people persecuting believers, soften their hearts to receive the truth of the love and sacrifice of your Son. Give the followers of Djibouti wisdom and strength to share your love with those around them and beyond. Provide, protect and prepare them for what is to come next. Amen

Day 39: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: China

We pray today for the believers in China. The government is working hard to tighten controls on Christianity and the spread of this faith. One might assume that the size of China and the vast number of people is one positive hindrance to the enforcement of these new laws.

 

Of the population of 1.37 Billion, there are an estimated 85 million believers. For more information check out Open Doors USA.

 

Father, we pray for China. When we see the numbers, we think that there are a huge number of believers, but once we compare it to the total amount of the population we see that it is very similar to other countries on this list.  We pray that God you will open the eyes of the Chinese people to your sovereignty. That you are the creator and that their views on the world have been misguided. Give wisdom and knowledge to the Chinese believers as they take the steps of faith to reach their communities. Holy Spirit guide your people, protect them from persecution, give them many opportunities to reach the lost. Amen

 

Day 38: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Kuwait

 

We pray today for the believers in Kuwait. The government is riddled with contradictions when it comes to religious freedom. This makes it hard on the Christian immigrants who live there.

 

Of the population of 3.4 million, there are an estimated 420,000 believers. For more information check out Open Doors USA.

 

Father, we pray for Kuwait. We pray for opportunities for believers to share their faith, give them wisdom and foresight on when it is safe to share.  Help them to reach family, friends, co-workers and government officials.  Put a burning passion in their hearts to reach those around them who are on the wrong path. We ask for leniency on those believers who are trying to register to work and are looking for permeant homes, give them peace that these decisions will come quickly. Protect your believers in Kuwait, give them a boldness that has not yet been seen in this area. Let your light be bright here in Kuwait. Amen

 

Day 37: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Turkey

 

 

We pray today for the believers in Turkey. In just one year Turkey has risen from #45 to #37. This is due to political changes, ethnic conflict and radicalism.

 

Of the population of 80 million, there are an estimated 187,000 believers. For more information check out Open Doors USA.

 

Father, we pray for Turkey. Unlike many of the other places, we have been praying for I have walked on the streets of Turkey. I pray for these people, that the rise in persecution will cease and take a turn for peace. Not the peace necessarily that the world keeps asking for but the peace the world desperately needs in you. Protect those who have taken on your banner and give them motivation and wisdom to reach others. Let their lights shine in the darkness and illuminate your love throughout Turkey. Amen

 

Day 34: 50 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church: Central African Republic

We pray today for the believers in the Central African Republic. We want to take time to thank you God for the work you are doing here. This nation has dropped 12 points on the world chart but is still in need of our prayers.

Of the population of 5 million, there are an estimated 3.7 million believers. It baffles me to see these numbers close to 70% of the population of the nation yet they are being persecuted. The oppressors are more organized and have a common goal, keeping Christians poor and feeling like second-class citizens.

Father, we pray for the Central African Republic. We ask that you unite the believers as to rise up against those who are persecuting them, not in violence but in love. Give them opportunities to change their nation at the local levels and national levels. Show them how they can impact their communities one person at a time. If there is any disunity among believers, I pray for the restoration of the church and the body. Use this nation to be an example of your love to the whole continent of Africa and the world. Amen

Day 35: 50 Days of Passion

As we talk this week about prayer, the question today is where is your hope? Do we pray because it is the next thing we can think of to do after trying all else? Or do we pray because it is the hope we have that the one who we trust will answer them?

 

“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13 NLT

 

In reading this prayer from Paul I see two powerful words that must be taken into consideration to understanding the order in how his pray is laid out. I read this and see a formula for hope. First, I read “because”. This tells me that trust in him must be first in all we do. Trusting in God through Jesus salvation and daily trust him to meet your needs is the foundation by which every believer must rest. Building your spiritual home on anything else is folly and bound for failure.

 

So, with a foundation of trust in place we then can be prepared to be filled with the joy and peace that he offers. There will be a place for it to reside and live in us. Without the trust of God these gifts given will only seep out and never be long lasting. We will trade them in for whatever we put our hope and trust in. There is no joy and peace in trusting money. There is no joy and peace trusting our politicians. There is no joy and peace trusting man. We need to put our hope and trust in God.

 

The second word I read is ” then”. This tells me the previous statement must be help true for the second to become reality. If we want an overflowing confident hope in what we believe so we can reach others, we must trust God. We must live a life filled with joy and peace. The most important part of this verse is that we must believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, still works today and gives us this confident hope. The Holy Spirit, an equal part of the trinity is with us believers to shape us, empower us to go into the world and spread the love of Christ with confidence.

 

Joy and Peace = Confident Hope

TRUST                      HOLY SPIRIT

 

 

Are you trusting God? Have you asked him to fill you with joy and peace? Are you overflowing with confident hope? Are you plugged into the Holy Spirit? If you want to be effective in reaching this world you need to examine each question, if you can answer yes to one or all then you need to mediate on this scripture and ask God to fulfill it in your life.

 

Jesus, we need to trust you with everything. Thank you for providing us a way to connect with you through Jesus sacrifice and daily through the Holy Spirit. Give us peace and joy because of this trust in you. Then fill us with an overflowing confident hope through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit so we can be come effective in sharing your love to others. They matter to you Jesus, so the matter to me. Amen

 

 

 

 

Day 21: 50 Days of Passion

We read about people petitioning for peace or hear of people striving for world peace, but I come to wonder what it is that they are actually looking for? Do they even really understand what they are striving for? Is it even possible?  With all the turmoil in the world today one could wonder if it is really an option.

 

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

 

 

This verse gives us a taste and a formula on how to experience God’s peace in our lives. I take from here that peace is a confidence that you are walking with Jesus, that he has you no matter what life might throw your way and your okay with that. So here is my break down on how one might experience Gods peace.

1. You must be living in Christ Jesus – a relationship with Jesus is essential, accepting his sacrifice on the cross. This is paramount, for with out this nothing else matters.
2. Thanksgiving – be thankful for your life, and everything in it. The good times and the not so good times. God has already done so much for you, life itself.
3. Pray – ask God for what you need, and pray for others. Nothing is to small or insignificant for you to ask him.
4. Don’t worry- this can be the biggest challenge as we tend to be concerned all the time on how things will turn out. To let it go and trust God is key to receiving peace.

 

It is only when we as humanity find peace with God will we then be able to finally have world peace. I look at the bumper sticker and wonder how much truth is in those simple words.

‘No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus, Know Peace.’

We can’t expect those reading a sticker to understand but as believers we need to be open and willing to share our faith and help people know who Jesus is. It isn’t just knowing about Jesus either, it is about surrendering and truly knowing who he is.

 

I pray that even today you will apply these to your life, and will experience God’s peace in your life. That will protect your heart and mind from the enemies’ attack, and that you will have confidence to boldly share the peace and love you have received in Jesus.

 

Jesus, thank you so much for everything you have given us, your blessings are more then we realize. As we apply this scripture to our lives we ask that you protect us from the attacks of worry and restlessness and provide us with peace. Let us walk boldly in your peace and work to share your love with those around us. They matter to you so they matter to us. Amen