Day 20
Call to Prayer
God, in your kindness and patience, draw me close. Teach me to pray. Help me to listen. I come boldly in the name of Jesus, amen.
Silence
Psalm 37:1–7
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
Read Acts 8:1:3
Prayer of Response
Lord, it is hard for me not to be overwhelmed by the voices that cry out against me for what I believe. I want to hide. I want to stay silent. But, you are with me. Even in suffering, you are with me. Give me a confidence like Stephen’s, whose eyes were set on you but whose heart felt compassion for those who killed him. Help me. In Christ’s name, amen.
Prayers of Supplication
For your enemies
For the persecuted church around the world
For us to be a faithful witness
Prayer for Our Enemies
God, give me creativity to bless those who hurt me. Show me how I may give good things to those who intend my harm. They would seek to kill; let me give life in exchange. I understand this comes with a cost, that this is not a free transaction. I am willing to pay the price in full. Give me the resources of divine love, that I may cause the transaction to go through fully, dear Lord. It is a blessing to know persecution, as it draws me closer to you. And so I pray, dear Lord, a prayer of thanksgiving for my enemies, for they have given me a great glimpse of your love. Without them, I would be left in ignorance. And so I thank you for them. This is a good place to start. Let my love be like a lighthouse for them at sea. Shine so brilliantly through me, Lord, that they cannot help but be drawn to the beams of your Spirit calling them home. Call them home through me, dear Lord, that you might receive glory, honor, and praise. As my heart bears the scars of their wounds, help me to shine more brilliantly. Through the fog, through the storm, through the terrors of the night, bring them home through me, Lord, and the radiance of your love. I grant them unconditional love, for your name’s sake, Jesus. Amen.
from “Canyon Road: A Book of Prayer” by Kari Kristina Reeves
