A Prayer for the Persecuted & In Remembrance of a Martyr

Stephen’s Strength Still Speaks To Us Today

Dear Father God in Heaven, You stretch my faith, over and over again. Thank you for teaching me, for ministering to my spirit, for loving and redeeming me. I love Your holiness and faithfulness. Your grace sets me free to live in ways I never thought possible. Yet sadness accompanies my thoughts.

Father, I am deeply troubled by the persecuting of my brethren. But You see the fallen, the martyrs for Your cause, as victors for the crown of Jesus Christ. I read of how Stephen was full of faith and full of Your Holy Spirit. He did not deserve death, and You were present with him in Spirit. He was not abandoned. Stephen gazed into heaven and saw Your glory even when men were doing their worst to him. I love his words, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Do not hold this sin against them.” Stephen’s strength was in Christ and in his Christ-likeness. So should mine be, Father God. I desire to be faithful like those whom have gone on before me, like Stephen in the book of Acts. His life is a testament to me. What a scene to envision. . .

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:54-59 ESV).

Stephen was victor because Jesus is Victor. No one can take away the victory of a saint upon their entry into God’s presence and eternal glory. Such an absolute amazing truth that I can rest in no matter what happens. Thank you, dear Father. I’m so grateful. My heart praises You. My thoughts raise. . .

“Christ the Lord is risen today; Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth reply, Alleluia!”* True awesomeness!

Father God, be with those suffering because they identify with Your Son. Their humanity is being bruised, but their humility is great. Their suffering is horrific, but their faith is strong. Surround them with Your love. Comfort them in all things–with Your anointing, with Your grace, and with Your Being.

I pray this in Jesus’ holy and precious name,

Amen

. . .

*Charles Wesley, 1707-1789

Photo by Nature Uninterrupted Photography, Unsplash