Ten ways to pray with the persecuted church at Easter
During the Easter season, many followers of Jesus face increased persecution because enemies of the gospel seek to disrupt the work of the gospel and cause fear among Christians. As Easter draws near, here are some ways that we can support our brothers and sisters around the world in prayer:
1. Pray for boldness and wisdom to tell others about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pray that they’d have wisdom to know who truly is a seeker and who is not. Pray that they would have the words to speak (Ephesians 6:19-20).
2. Pray for Christians in Egypt and Pakistan. Pray for protection as they gather together to worship Jesus this Easter (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and pray for comfort as they are reminded of the attacks of previous years (1 Corinthians 1:3-5).
3. Pray for Christians who will meet secretly to observe Easter. Pray that they will have a rich understanding of God’s presence as they meet together (Matthew 18:20).
4. Pray for Christians who don’t have access to the Bible to read the Easter story. Pray that a bible would be delivered to them soon.
5. Amidst the persecution and suffering that they face, pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, would guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
6. Pray that those suffering persecution would be able to pray for and forgive their enemies (Matthew 5:44).
7. Pray for Christians living in refugee camps. Even amidst dire circumstance, may they experience the hope of Easter in a profound way (Romans 15:13).
8. Pray that they would sense the encouragement of the Holy Spirit and may they know that their Church family is praying for them (Acts 9:31).
9. Pray for the younger generation. Pray that they would experience the truth of the resurrection. Pray for parents to have wisdom of how to teach their children about their faith and to continue to follow Christ even amidst persecution (Deuteronomy 11:19-21).
10. Pray that believers would have the strength to persevere and continue to follow God even though the situation remains difficult (James 1:12)
Finally, here’s one last prayer to pray: Pray that we in Canada would wake up to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world. As we celebrate the cross of Christ this Easter, may we remember the suffering of those around the world who bear His name.
If you want more ways to pray for the persecuted church, I encourage you to request a copy of our World Watch Guide which is available here. This guide will give you more information about how to pray for the 50 most dangerous countries to live in as a Christian and how you can pray for those countries.
Blessed Easter season.
