Heavenly Father, we come before You in the name of Jesus, lifting up our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church in Nigeria. We pray for Your divine intervention and protection over them. Lord, we ask for Your peace to surround their families, providing comfort and strength in the midst of their trials.
We specifically lift up sister Leah Sharibu and all the girls and women who have been kidnapped and forced into marriage by Muslim gangs. Lord, we pray for their release and deliverance from captivity. We ask that You would strengthen their faith and give them the courage to stand firm in their belief in Jesus as the Son of God, even in the face of great adversity.
We also lift up the trauma counseling workshops run by Open Doors charity. We thank You for the healing and restoration that these workshops have brought to many women who have experienced the horrors of captivity. Lord, we pray for an abundance of resources and support for these workshops, that they may continue to provide healing and hope to those who have suffered.
Father, we know that You are a God of justice and mercy. We ask that You would bring an end to the persecution and violence against Your church in Nigeria. We pray for the conversion of those who persecute Your people, that they may come to know the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
In all these things, we trust in Your sovereignty and Your perfect plan. May Your name be glorified through the perseverance and faith of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Scripture References:
- Psalm 34:17-18: "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
- Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
- Psalm 10:17-18: "You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror."