Standing With the Persecuted
“In July, I met with survivors of religious persecution at the White House. Some of those individuals suffered as a result of state-sponsored persecution; others, at the hands of terrorists and criminals. No matter the case, America will always be a voice for victims of religious persecution everywhere.
“In recent times, the world has also witnessed devastating acts of violence in sacred places of worship. In 2016, an 85-year-old Catholic priest was viciously killed while celebrating mass in Normandy, France. In the past year, the United States endured horrifying anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish Americans at synagogues in Pennsylvania and California. In March, Muslims praying with their families were sadistically murdered in New Zealand. On Easter Sunday this year, terrorists bombed Christian churches in Sri Lanka, killing hundreds of faithful worshippers. Who would believe this is even possible?
“These evil attacks are a wound on all humanity. We must all work together to protect communities of every faith. We’re also urging every nation to increase the prosecution and punishment of crimes against religious communities. There can be no greater crime than that.” (President Trump)
“I give you a new command. Love one another. You must love one another, just as I have loved you. If you love one another, everyone will know you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35; NIRV)
Give Him 15 minutes in prayer:
Intercede for persecuted Believers around the world.
Declare that this nation will not tolerate the destruction by terrorists of any house of worship. Neither will we tolerate the harming of individuals within their places of worship.
Pray against attacks against any place of worship in the United States. Consider prayer walking the locations of worship in your community. Watch you heart and attitude and remember that there are lost souls in many of those locations. Let the Lord break your heart for what breaks His—the Deceiver is keeping them captive. Cry out for their salvation. Cry out for their protection, so they can have time to come to know Jesus.
Thank the Lord for President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Ambassador Sam Brownback, for their work to ensure religious freedom in this nation and in the nations of the earth.
Pray for the lost and those who serve other gods to come to know Jesus, the One True God.
A prayer you can pray:
Father, we intercede for persecuted Believers around the world. We pray first for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Even in this nation, many Christians are being targeted for physical, emotional, and economic attack because of their commitment to You and Your Word. We include in our prayers those who are of other faiths, because if we tolerate that, the persecution will come to our door. The only way to protect true freedom for Christians is to protect the free worship of all faiths. It doesn’t mean we agree. We know that those worshiping other gods need Jesus. We intercede for their salvation with all our heart. God, give us compassion for the lost, whether they are sitting in our churches or sitting in another place of worship, or just wandering around without any faith. May the lost find Jesus! There is something really wrong when we hate others just because they worship differently than we do. Why should they die without Jesus? Those who run to any house of worship should be able to find safe refuge there. That has nothing to do with our commitment to pray for them to be saved, as well as to tell them about Jesus when we have the opportunity. Change our hearts and intercession, Jesus. Thank You for President Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Ambassador Sam Brownback, for their work to ensure religious freedom in this nation and in the nations of the earth. We are so proud of them for leading the way to protect this fundamental right around the world. Let the nations respond favorably and institute their own protective laws. And Holy Spirit, draw the lost to Jesus! Let multitudes be saved! Amen.
Today’s decree:
The United States will be the primary protector of freedom of worship!
Excerpted from “Remarks by President Trump at the United Nations Event on Religious Freedom | New York, NY”, 09/23/2019.