How do you feel about being persecuted?
‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you…. John 15:20
Precious Jesus,
We admit, we really like to be liked.
Reading that we will be hated and persecuted
“because are not of this world”
unnerves us.*
Strengthen us to bear persecution,
for indeed,
it will come to your followers.**
Help us to remember that it is not personal,
especially when family and friends
mock or abandon us
because we follow you.
Help us to endure persecution
through looking to you,
the “author and perfecter of our faith,”
“who for the joy set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is seated at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
And most of all, help us to remember
that we are not alone
as we face persecution,
for we have the Helper,
the Holy Spirit,
whom you sent to us.
The Spirit will give us the words
and the courage we need;
the Spirit will comfort us
and bandage our wounds.
Thank you for giving us all we need
to endure
until the day
of no more mourning,
no more pain,
no more shame.
Amen.
*Today is the international day of prayer for the persecuted church. We will pray about persecution today and tomorrow (and on an ongoing basis.)
**This prayer based on a sermon by our pastor, Joel Treick. You can listen here : Pinewoods Church – Podcast.
