Keep Their Eyes Above the Waves...

Day 6
Pray that a spirit of fellowship will grow between the persecuted church and the free world. Pray that those who worship in freedom will develop a burden to pray for and serve their persecuted brothers and sisters.

Philippians 3:10
I want to know Christ -- yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.

Tonight I just want to bring worship to this prayer.

"Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

You call me [them] out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I [they] find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My[Their] faith will stand

And I [they] will call upon Your name
And keep my [their] eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My [Their] soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am [they are] Yours and You are mine [theirs]

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my [their] guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me [them]
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will [when they]  call upon Your name
And keep my [their] eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My [their] soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am [they are] Yours and You are mine [theirs]

Spirit lead me [them] where my [their] trust is without borders

Let me [them] walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me [them]
Take me [them] deeper than my [their] feet could ever wander
And my [their] faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my [our] Savior

I will [When they] call upon Your Name
Keep my [their] eyes above the waves
My [Their] soul will rest in Your embrace
I am [They are] Yours and You are mine [theirs]

Lord,

The words of this song is my prayer tonight, but as I change the words from "I" to "Them" in lifting up my persecuted brothers and sisters, I pray that you hear the words and answer the prayer. For as they have been called by you and follow you that they find freedom in you embrace. In this may they find others that are with them in this time and create a fellowship that lifts them up. For we are not made to be alone in trials, and as you does not want man to be alone, let them know that they are prayed for by thousands of other believers. As we are free to worship may our hearts break and be burdened with their trials so that we will offer our all in this free land and free life to those who have to hide their faith in order to continue sharing it. 

For what a blessing it is to be a light in a dark place. To be called to serve you in that capacity, I can only imagine. 

You have enamored me and taught me that those who are shining your light are filled with your light. Their eyes are healthy and whole making their body full or your love and truth, do not let our eyes or theirs become vain or dark. Allow us to continue to seek the truth and look at you to feed our faith (Matthew 6:22-23). 

I want to be in this with them. With my whole heart and soul. For you are a God of compassion, love, and grace. You want to save your creation from a life of darkness so you send out your disciples among the nations to speak your name. Let these disciples know that they are being loved and cared for through prayer and allow the "free" church to find ways to provide for their physical and tangible needs. 

In your name I pray as I lift these words up with my heart,

Amen.

Blessing in the Shadows

Day 4
Pray 1 Peter 3:14-17 for the persecuted. Pray that those undergoing persecution, especially those in prison, will not be overcome by a spirit of fear. Pray that those undergoing interrogation will be given the words to say at the right moment, and that they'll be able to do so with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:14-17
But Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened." But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.


When I read 1 Peter, all I can think about is the story that was told on Sunday:

Nearly 200 years ago a revival took place in Wales England. And as a result of this revival many missionaries were called onto foreign mission fields. And many of these missionaries chose as their place of service a place in Northern India, a place known for savages, they were called "head hunters".  Who as a sign of greatness in their tribe they would take the heads of enemies and hang them on their walls. It was into this savage tribe that these missionaries came, and obviously they were not welcome by this tribe. But they knew they were called by God and so they continued to share their faith. And they finally were able to reach out to one family, and they accepted Jesus Christ.

And this man and his wife and his two sons were so contagious about Jesus Christ that they began to lead other members of their tribe to Jesus. And the Chief of their tribe caught wind of their faith and so he called a meeting of the tribe and he captured this man and his family and brought them before the tribe. He said to the man, "Renounce Jesus Christ as your savior or something bad will happen to you. We will kill your two sons." And the man looked down at his sons and he knew he loved them but he could not renounce Jesus Christ, so instead he said the words to this famous song, he said, "I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back, no turning back." And the archers pulled back their arrows and they shot dead his two sons.

I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus,
I have decided to follow Jesus.
No turning back, no turning back.

And as his sons laid their on the ground before him, dead, the tribal chief said to him, "I am going to give you another chance. Renounce Christ or I am going to kill your wife." And the man looked down at his sons and then looked up at his wife whom he loved so much, his partner in life, but he knew what scripture said, that he needed to acknowledge God, acknowledge Christ before men. And he said the second line to this famous song, he said, "Though none go with me, I still will follow. No turning back. No turning back." And the archers killed his wife.

Though none go with me, still I will follow.
Though none go with me, still I will follow.
Though none go with me, still I will follow.
No turning back. No turning back.

And now with his two sons and his wife lying on the ground in front of him, the tribal chief stood in front of him and said, "Renounce Christ or this time we will kill you." And the man realizing that he had nothing left in this world looked up at heaven and said the last lines to this song, he said, "The cross before me. The world behind me. No turning back, no turning back." And in anger the tribal chief gave the order and the archers killed the man.

The cross before me, the world behind me.
The cross before me, the world behind me.
The cross before me, the world behind me.
No turning back, no turning back.

And now with the man and his two children and his wife dead, the chief stood before this family speechless. He couldn't believe what his eyes had just seen, and he realized that through the faith of this man that this God must be real. This Jesus who this man was willing to die for must be real. And on the spot the reports tell us that this chief accepted Christ as his savior. And through the following weeks other tribes began to accept this Christ as their savior. All because one man and his family were willing to stand up and say "I have decided to follow Jesus, though no one goes with me I am still going to follow, the cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back."

Father,
My fingers are unable to type the words my heart wants to express. The grief and joy when I hear this story are so intertwined that it is indescribable how I feel. This journey, praying for 7 days, has allowed me to reveal emotions that I did not know I could express to even you. The brokenness, the confusion, it is all from you. As I pray for these people, read about them, think about them... I draw closer to you. I do not understand how the shadows on this earth can be for your will. I do not understand how darkness can produce blessings, how death can bring resurrection, how sacrifice pushes forth grace. Lord your scripture says that "If you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed." But what are all the other moments? What are all the other moments counted as? Are the joyful moments blessings? If death is a blessing, if suffering is a blessing... what are all the other moments? My confusion, my frustration is so raw, so real that I can't help but sit here and cry. I sit here thinking about the people who have been burned, crucified, martyrs. I sit here and think of them, their families, their pain... and then try and call it a blessing. But their faith in you was so strong. They knew exactly what they would say the moment someone asked them why they have hope in you. And is that where the blessings lie? Is the answer what brings forth life changing moments? Is the answer, the strength that you have given your servants? For when they reply, they reply with your grace, your truth, as soft as whisper in the wind. For you are not in the thunder, or the lightening... but in the quietness, the gentle breeze. I pray that all of the people, the family members of Christ whom are in this position have faith to stand in your word. Shield their hearts from the maliciousness this life so quickly brings. Draw them close to you, let them sip out of the cup you have filled for them. Let it pour out into their souls so they will not be thirsty in trying times.

In your name.

Amen.

(Watch on youtube... but not all mobile devices can show this video so I had to transcribe it)