This past week Franklin Graham led a call to prayer for our country. My husband and I were glad to participate. There are many concerns to lift up to God for our nation and also for other nations.
Iran has been in the news for the past couple of weeks. As I scroll through X today, I see many calls to prayer. Pray that the killing stops. Pray for freedom for the people. Pray for the Christians. I believe that God hears the prayers of believers. A few years ago, I wrote the following.
So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Acts 12:5
Do you know the rest of the story? An angel led Peter out of prison and he went to the house where people were praying. When he knocked on the door Rhoda came to the door, but she was so shocked that she did not open it. Instead, she went to tell the others that Peter was at the door. They didn’t believe her. When Peter kept knocking, they finally let him in. God had answered their prayer in a miraculous way!
Sometimes circumstances seem so bad that we are overwhelmed. I was at a prayer meeting for the persecuted church. We had information about Christians around the world. This statement was part of the news: A British report ordered by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has concluded that persecution of Christians has reached “near genocidal” levels in parts of the world, particularly the middle east.
What can we do? The Bible instructs us to pray.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
One of our prayer team reflected on what it would be like to be imprisoned for faith in Jesus. She said, “I would want to know that people are praying for me.”
As the apostle Paul encountered trials and difficulties he wrote to the church at Corinth. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11
Paul also instructed the church at Ephesus. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6: 17-18
We can follow the example of the early Christians and pray for the believers in the middle east, in China, in Africa, in Venezuela, in Haiti and places around the world. We are encouraged to pray.
Continue steadfast in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2
