Standing Strong through Persecution
Finding encouragement, faith and hope in the face of suffering and persecution
Prayer is not just a religious routine; it is the very lifeline of every child of God.
For our prayers to be powerful and effective, they must rise from a heart that is right with God and right with others. We often focus on being right with God (and rightly so), but we can easily forget that bitterness, malice, or unresolved offence toward another person can seriously hinder our prayers.
The Promise and the Conditions
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Beautiful promises are attached to clear conditions:
- God will hear from heaven
- God will forgive sin
- God will heal the land
These promises are released when we do four things: humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways.
Two Things This Verse Teaches Us
- Prayer is the identity of God’s people. We are not spectators; we are intercessors. We get to partner with God in what He is doing in the world and carry the needs of others—especially the persecuted church—before Him.
- Humility opens the door to prayer. For our prayers to rise, our hearts must first bow. Success, position, or pride can make humility difficult, but without it we lose access to God’s throne. When we fall short, we must be quick to repent instead of defending our reputation.
King David is a great example: a man of incredible achievement who made terrible mistakes, yet he humbled himself quickly and acknowledged his sin.
Unforgiveness Blocks Prayer
Jesus put prayer and forgiveness side by side:
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him…”
Mark 11:24-25
We must pray in faith, believing God hears and answers. But Jesus also warns that unforgiveness defiles the hands we raise in prayer. A heart harbouring bitterness cannot approach a holy God effectively.
Why We Must Forgive
Forgiveness does not mean pretending the hurt never happened; it means releasing the person to God so that your own soul can be free and your prayers remain unhindered. Forgiveness frees us to receive God’s mercy and then extend it to others.
A Question to Carry Today
- Is there someone I need to forgive right now?
- Am I carrying bitterness in my heart while asking God to bless me?
- What healing—personal, relational, or even wider—might God release if I choose to forgive today?
Refusing to forgive doesn’t punish the other person; it chains me while they move on. Unforgiveness is the very thing that keeps my prayers from reaching the throne of grace.
Closing Prayer
Lord, make me a person of prayer. Give me a humble heart, a forgiving spirit, and unwavering faith. Where there is brokenness in me or around me, bring Your healing. Teach me to release others just as You have graciously released me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
