If we are to reach the unreached persecutors, the radical Muslims, and pray for those who are being persecuted, the apostates from Islam who are now born-again believers, we must realize this is God’s work and we must cooperate with HIM. I remember several years ago I was in a revival prayer meeting with about 175 pastors. After hearing a brief challenge to pray, we paired up and all were praying together out-loud. It was a powerful moment to be in a room with a hundred or so men praying together out-loud. My prayer partner led out and as he was praying I rejoiced in the Lord and agreed with him about his prayers, but then a still small voice spoke clearly to my heart: “The only time you see clearly is when your eyes are closed.” Instantly I knew this was the Spirit of God delivering an important message to my soul. “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10)
When I am on my feet going, I am focused on my journey. Even though I am focused on the task at hand, fiery darts from the principalities and powers invade my space. The principalities and powers of darkness will not allow us to walk in the way without attacks. Burning, cutting words shot at our mind, will and emotions. The eyes are drawn toward physical temptations in an effort to weaken out passionate pursuit of that moment. Our brothers and sisters are attacked, our family and friends are attacked, and we are pressed: “LORD, what shall I do?” If we pray, if we are “still” before the LORD, we are able to see HIS greatness, HIS glory, HIS majesty and HIS purposes as they are brought back into focus. But if we fail to pray, our focus will only continue to diminish until our work or ministry has no meaning or is completely forgotten. God will give treasures in the darkness. HE will subdue kings and nations to accomplish HIS purposes.
“Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; 2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: 3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.” (Isaiah 45:1-3)
God moved in and through the life of Cyrus a Babylonian king to free and bless the nation of Israel, by rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. God provided hidden treasures for King Cyrus to do this, and God will provide hidden treasures for the child of God who is willing to seek HIM and to trust HIM in difficult, dark times. But we must pray. We must be still before HIM. It is HIS work, and HE must move in the hearts and souls of those who are lost, who are persecutors, to bring light to their darkened soul.
Those who are on the fields of Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, and Pakistan will be doing their work before the LORD. God is using them and will continue to use them to reach others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must pray for them and for the leaders of these nations who sorely persecute those who follow Jesus Christ. Therefore, as we begin our prayer time, we must search our own heart. This must not become a religious exercise, but rather a time of seeking the face of God in worship and adoration. We must be still before the LORD allowing HIM to give us HIS wisdom and purpose for these countries. And then we pray for the leaders.
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Timothy 2:1-4)
The president of Afghanistan is Ashraf Ghani Karzai, he began his presidency on September 29, 2014. His wife is Zeenat Karzai. President Karzai is backed by two vice presidents, Abdul Rashid Dostum and Sarwar Danish. It is important to pray for the president’s wife Zeenat Karzai as well as Dostum and Danish as these are all people of influence to the President. We must pray for all to be influenced by the light of the Word of God. May these persecutors have a Saul of Taurus road to Damascus experience. We must pray that they see with the eyes of their soul the love of Christ that lives in the hearts and souls of the believers of Afghanistan.
The leader of North Korea is Kim Jong-un and wife Ri Sol-ju. We must pray that God would speak clearly to their hearts. We must pray that God would reveal HIS truth to their souls. God moved upon the heathen hearts of King Nebuchadnezzar, King Darius, and King Cyrus to bless the people of Israel.
“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalms 2:8) The prayers of God’s people are just as big as the God of the Bible. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him….” (2Chronicles 16:9) “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” (Isaiah 59:1)
Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is the 9th and current President of Somalia. He was previously the Prime Minister of Somalia. Mohamed is married to Saynab Abdi Moallim, the First Lady of Somalia. The couple have four children—two daughters and two sons—who still reside in the United States, as of 2019. While praying for President Farmajo and his wife Saynab, should we not also pray for his children who are living in the United States. We must pray that someone has the opportunity to show them the love of Jesus Christ. We must also pray for the current Prime Minister of Somalia Mohamed Hussein Roble.
As we pray for ourselves to keep our relationship right before God that HE make a good work through our prayer life for HIS glory, and as we pray for the leaders of these nations who persecute believers, let us also pray for the believers in these countries. The apostle Paul gives to us a powerful prayer to pray for believers.
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Ephesians 1:17-23)
Pray this prayer out-loud as you pray for the believers in these persecuted countries. We need not know their name. We only need to know that they are there and they need the mighty prayers of the saints.