We are all grieving at the loss of lives of Christians at the hands of ISIS and others, just because of the fact that they are folowers of Jesus. Jennie Lee Riddle, Todd Smith (of Selah), and Jordan Merritt have written a song as a response to these persecutions. Below is the video of the song, as well as a prayer Todd and Jennie wrote. They have released the song in partnership with Open Doors, a ministry serving persecuted Christians worldwide. Get the song on iTunes.
We pray with the families whose loved ones have been abducted or martyred. God we ask that You would strengthen, comfort, and embolden them in this hour. Please surround them with Your saints to help lift and carry their burdens. Give them faith-filled intercessions and hear them according to 1 John 5: 14-15. Give them the grace to forgive, so that they may be free from carrying the bondage of hatred. We stand with them and acknowledge You, Jesus, as the One to whom every knee shall one day bow. We rejoice with them in the knowledge that this world is not our home and that there will come a day when every tear is wiped away. We look forward to that day along with them. Psalm 147:3, Matt 5:4, Matt 6:14-15, Luke 23:33-34, Acts 7:59-60, 1 Cor. 13:4-7, Phil 2:5-11, Heb 13:14, Rev. 21:4
God, we hold up the persecutors before You now and ask that You would remember the persecutor, Saul. Your mercy overcame Him and as You converted Him, You gave us Paul - a great gift to the Church. We pray that those like Saul will come to know You, God, through the suffering of those they are persecuting. We pray that complete transformation would occur by Your Spirit, and that they would be made willing to suffer for the name of Jesus as laborers of Your Kingdom. Matt 5:43-48, Luke 6:27-28, Luke 23:33-34, Acts 7:59-60
We pray for our brothers and sisters facing persecution. We know that You number our days. We remember the way You opened prison doors for Your saints. We remember their song in the night. We ask for Your mighty and full deliverance until the time of Your return. We remember the way You walked through angry crowds until Your time had come. Like You, Jesus, when the time comes, we ask for Your strength and courage to not give in or waver even if facing brutality or imprisonment. We pray that their spirit would not be broken, their faith would stand strong, and that Your Holy Spirit would rise up in them. Give them joy in their homegoing with no fear or shrinking back. Give them grace to finish well. We ask for Your light to shine forth; and that Your name, Jesus, would be ever on the lips of Your saints. We pray that the life they sow would yield a great harvest and reward. We praise You as The Way, The Truth, and
The Life. Matt 5:10-12, Matt 26:38-39, Luke 4:28-30, Luke 22:15, Jn 8:48-59, Jn 14:6, Jn 15:20-21, Jn 16:33, Jn 21:15-19, Acts 6:8-7:60, Acts 12:1-19, Acts 16:16-40, Eph 6:19-20 Col 4:2-4, Heb 10:32-34, Heb 11:35-40, 1 Peter 4:13
We pray for the Church in America and around the world. We ask for faithfulness and resolve to stand with those in persecution. We pray for revival. We confess our sin and ask You to forgive us. We acknowledge that we have not been mindful of the hour in which we live. We have been selfish and blind. Where we have claimed our lives are Yours, we have nevertheless lived them as our own. We humble ourselves at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. We ask for Your healing, power, and grace to obey. We ask for unity. We stand with You, Jesus, and give our lives to You all over again. We ask for grace to live well and die well, and that from the rising of the sun to it’s going down, we would be found faithful and You would be ever praised. 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 51:10, James 4:6-10, 2 Tim 3:1-5, 1 John 1:9
We pray for those in places of authority and government and ask that You would embolden them to protect innocent lives. That they would not be afraid to carry out holy and swift judgment to rout out evil. We ask that You would give them clear eyes, super-natural wisdom, discernment, understanding, and knowledge. Help them to embrace responsibility and act. We pray that the fear of You, the One True God would keep them moving to decree, promote, and work righteousness. Psalm 146:5-7, Romans 13:1-4, Hebrews 11:32-34, 1 Peter 2:13-14