Would Nehemiah View The International Days Of Prayer For The Persecuted Church?

As we approach the International Days of Prayer (IDOP), there is much we can learn from the prayer life of Nehemiah. As the king's cupbearer, Nehemiah lived the comfortable life of a high official in the royal household. Nevertheless, he felt a connection to his people in a far distant land. Thus, he took it upon himself to inquire about their well being. Then upon learning of their appalling condition, he wept, mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven--for days. In fact, his prayers continued day and night for four months!

How would Nehemiah view the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church? It is likely that he would view IDOP as merely a starting point of continual prayer. And so, with Nehemiah's attitude in mind, I

Use the List to learn about the top 50 nations where Christians experience crushing persecution. Next, select and commit to pray daily for any one of the nations, and in specifically pray for the Christians, for 30 days. And knowing the immensely high cost of following Christ in these nations, will you take the challenge?

How then should we pray for the persecuted church? Yeshua (Jesus) taught us to pray for those who persecute us. That is, we should pray for their salvation. After all, it is God's will that all people be saved. However, there is another side to prayer. For instance, consider the martyr's prayer found in Revelation 6:9-11.

How did these brothers and sisters in Christ--killed for their faith--pray? Did they pray, "Father, forgive them, they do not know what they've done." No, on the contrary, they prayed for judgment and vengeance. They prayed, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10) And how did God respond to such an "unloving" prayer? Did He rebuke them? No, instead He gave them white robes of righteousness and told them to wait a little