A Prayer about Being Persecuted as a Christian

‘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 [we] 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 (Find October 23 sermon): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pinewoods-church/id1550803637.