Dear Lord,
We come before you today with heavy hearts, carrying the burdens of many. We lift up the following needs and concerns:
1. **Persecuted Christians**: Lord, we remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:10-12. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when people reproach you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Lord, we pray for their strength, endurance, and faithfulness. We ask that you would deliver them from their persecutors and turn the hearts of their enemies to you. We pray for the spreading of the Gospel even in the midst of persecution, that many would come to know you, Jesus, as their Lord and Savior.
2. **Israel**: Lord, we lift up the nation of Israel, asking for your peace and salvation to reign. We pray based on Romans 10:1, "Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved." We ask that you would bless the people of Israel and we stand against any attempts to harm or destroy them. We also pray for unity of the Church universal in Jesus. God should be sought for by all as this persecution and rise of Anti-Christ governance happens. We pray for Christians worldwide not to fall away in these difficult and extreme times.
3. **Suffering of Children**: Lord, we lift up the many needs around the world, including the suffering of children, the hungry, the sick, and those affected by natural disasters and conflicts. We ask for the salvation of many and blessing those who bless Israel and the Jews worldwide with the blessings in the Old and New Testaments. We also pray for the 3 billion unreached and all those children across the world suffering abuse. We stand for half the world's children who are suffering or are in danger. We stand with open arms and hearts. We are humble and open for your voice, God Almighty, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We know that all human words and prayers are hollow without you filling it with your Holy Power. We submit, we humble ourselves, and come asking for forgiveness. We lift you, Jesus, up as Lord and King in each of our lives and our homes, workplaces, community, church, government, and authority.
4. **the many needs listed by name**: Lord, we also pray for our ministry and all those listed by name, including ###'s family, ###, ###, ###, ###, ###, ###, ###, ###, and the others. We ask for your healing, comfort, and salvation to touch each life and that we all see your great Hand touching all those who you have your sovereign will directed towards each day in the amazing work your do, which we humbly need to be in tune to. We cast the names and prayers into your fire by faith and expect you to do amazingly amazing works in their life.
5. **the countless martyrs**: Lord, we also ask for you Jesus that you would bless and help all the countless martyrs who gave their life that countless others may be saved. May these be not lost and will be forever our heroes of faith. They would suffer and die that many may live. Some are killed and butchered simply and only for believing in Jesus and Jesus Himself is our rock and refuge now.
Lord, we know that our ally is you, Jesus Christ, and our sovereign God Almighty. In any abuse, be it sex, spiritual or relationship, or financial, we will point directly to you, Jesus. We need all humanity to turn to Jesus and cry to be saved and to do your will.
We stand with ### in Jesus as we continue to seek God's will for all the people listed and we make ###'s request our request, knowing each person and each name is our hero who we lift up before the Father to petition for each of these.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.