Our family is being shaped by the ministry of Open Doors which is a group that reaches out to families of persecuted Christians. In the World Watch List 2019 (a compilation of the top 50 most persecuted Countries) they list each country’s population, who their leader is and the rate of persecution. There are three ways to pray for that country and for the Christians in that region.
We read about one country at the end of dinner and we pray for that country and the Christians there. Important conversations have begun as a family as a result of this focus. We take turns every night and one of us will pray. Our son recently prayed for our “spiritual siblings” in Libya and when he prayed for the Christians there he prayed for “us” not them. I told him later that meant so much to me because it truly is “us” when we are Christ followers. We talk about how a family of four in a rural town in NC are gathered together in prayer being heard by Jesus Christ himself. We are fully known by him. And at the same time, the Christians we are praying for are also fully known by God. The voices thousands of miles away are being heard at the same time as ours are being heard. We are connected to each other through prayer.
I have no theological backing for this thought but I hopefully believe we will meet people in heaven that we prayed for on earth. Even those we don’t know. Maybe not but I just have a suspicion we might. Even if we don’t – we can know for sure that our God wants us to pray and bear these persecuted Christian’s burdens.
If you are looking for a meaningful family practice that will produce spiritual fruit then download or order a World Watch List. They are free. And the rewards are rich!
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