Heavenly Father I praise You for where I was born and where I have lived. I praise You for my brothers and sisters who live in the Asian Countries, the Middle East, the Slavic Countries and Europe. I praise You for allowing my books to raise money for Compassionate Life who helps orphans and others in Africa. I praise You for the lovely people of Haiti that I have met and worshipped with. I praise You for the friends of my father and friends of my wife who do missionary work in Central America and South America. I praise You for all of the Native Americans I have met and made friends with over my lifetime.
Holy Spirit help me to listen and comprehend Christ’s words on the Mount when He said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Holy Spirit help me and others to lift up all the brothers and sisters who live under persecution and the possibility of death just because they have accepted Your gift of salvation and You reigning in their hearts. Help me to give them support when I can and to remember them in prayer. I probably will not meet many of these people while here on the earth but I plan to get to know them in heaven.
Holy Spirit help me to stand and weather any persecution that may come my way. Help me to conduct myself with humility, grace and forgiveness. Let me stand true to my beliefs in You as all these other people face much worse persecution than I do. Help me to understand and be proactive in helping in any way that I can when I can.
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because of the gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction… You became imitators of Christ; in spite of sever suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 1Thessalonians 1:2-6 In Jesus’ name, amen.