Most, if not all, of us would agree that the “church” is universal (worldwide). In every country around the world, we have brothers and sisters in Christ who are fellow believers. Though our paths may never cross and we will never know the names of most of them — we are still family. As family, we are called to bear one another’s burdens. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). For many years I have been daily praying for the Persecuted Church: brothers and sisters who are persecuted simply for being followers of Jesus.

Many experience devastating trials:

Kicked out of family and community

Loss of jobs

Children denied the opportunity to attend school

Churches and homes burned and destroyed

Arrested, beaten, and imprisoned

And many times, the loss of their very life

You might be thinking, where do I even start to pray for them?

To be honest, most of us can’t relate to living under such conditions. Many times, I’m at a loss for how to pray. Perhaps you are currently feeling too overwhelmed to even form a prayer for your own present situation. What I’ve found helpful is using Psalms to guide my prayers. In the uncertain times of my life, I cling to the beauty and honesty of the Psalms, and my prayers become more direct. My thoughts become more focused. My soul is comforted in the sovereignty of God.

Here are some Psalms I’ve found useful.

Does chaos and frenzy define your life right now? Seek stillness and silence in Psalm 46:10 where God says, “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’”

Living in fear? Pray Psalm 56:3-4: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Awake in the middle of the night and worrying? Pray Psalm 63:6 & 8: “On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night…I cling to You; Your right hand upholds me.”

Do you feel like you blew it today? Pray Psalm 51:1-2: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

Feeling weak? Pray Psalm 142:3a: “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who watch over my way…”

We are told to remember our brothers and sisters in Christ who are being persecuted and suffer. I’ve found that regularly praying for Persecuted Christians has helped me learn how to better pray for other people in general. As we pray for ourselves and each other today, may we remember just a few of our persecuted family around the world. They covet our prayers.

Here are some specific names for you to pray for: Reverend Mbula who lost 5 relatives and 15 church members in extremist attacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Wahid (in the Middle East) whose family locked him in a tomb for following Christ. Sonali, who was forced by police to shut down a prayer gathering in her home in Sri Lanka.

I use the following websites to learn about Persecuted Christians and how to pray for them.

Voice of the Martyrs at www.persecution.com

Open Doors at www.opendoorsus.org

Today, I pray Psalm 20:1 over you: “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.”