Tag Archives: persecution
A Prayer, a Song, and a Memory in the Night
When life is darkest, what do we pray? When hope dims, what songs do we sing? When opponents taunt, on what memories do we rely? In his prayer to the Lord, the writer of Psalm 119 provides his answers to … Continue reading
Prayer of Despair
“I cry to you for help and you do not answer me: I stand, and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me. You lift me up on … Continue reading
A Prayer for an Unjust Nation Threatened by Terror
He prayed while his contemporaries trusted in rituals and practiced a syncretistic religion that mixed elements of nature religion with nationalism and the worship of God. He prayed while a hostile nation sent its armies to eradicate cities and demoralize … Continue reading
Prayer for an Undying Love
“Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love” (Ephesians 6:23-24). This benediction, or prayer of blessing, ends the book … Continue reading
A Prayer to a God Who Loves
Psalm 31’s writer called for fire with precision and passion as he penned this prayer. Enemies threatened the Psalmist; he identifies how they have attacked him but also that their practices and values pit them against God. As he calls … Continue reading
A Prayer for Christ’s Return
Prayers in Revelation range from anthems of adoration for God to passionate pleas for justice. In the midst of a story-line that seems chaotic at times, the prayers reveal a God who saves and secures those who persevere. The prayers … Continue reading
Accepting God’s Unexpected “Yes!”
How would your local church react if two leaders (think minister, elder, deacon) were arrested, not because of moral indiscretion or tax evasion, but simply because they spoke out for Jesus? Would other leaders suspend meetings of the church and … Continue reading