30-Day Prayer Calendar for the Persecuted Church

The Christian Church is experiencing a holocaust. Around the world, Christians are living the nightmare of beatings, imprisonment, beheadings, and being burned alive. We must continually pray for them and be good Samaritans, doing all we can to help our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Use this 30-Day Prayer Calendar as a daily guide when praying for persecuted Believers in Christ.

...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests... be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18)

Day 1

Morning Prayer

Pray that God, in His grace and mercy, takes what persecutors mean for evil and uses it for the good of those who love the Lord. (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28)

Evening Prayer

In 2014, the Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram murdered over 9,000 people. On January 3, 2015, they savagely attacked the city of Baga, Nigeria killing over 2,000 people in the second deadliest terrorist assault after the 9/11 strike on America. According to their leader, "This is just the beginning of the killings." Pray for a swift and decisive defeat of these bloodthirsty Islamic terrorists.

Day 2

Morning Prayer

Pray that the sincere faith of Christian parents is passed on to their children. (2 Timothy 1:5, Deuteronomy 11:19)

Evening Prayer

Pray for Pastor Saeed Abedini and the other Christians imprisoned in Iran. Pray that physical and psychological abuse ceases and they are allowed to return home to their families.

Day 3

Morning Prayer

Pray that the persecuted do not feel abandoned by God, but draw strength and courage from the knowledge that God will never leave them or abandon them. (Deuteronomy 31:6,8, Hebrews 13:5)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the 50,000 - 70,000 Christians imprisoned in North Korean labor camps. Pray for God to sustain them.

Day 4

Morning Prayer

Pray that ministry activities will go undetected by those who would stop the spreading of the Gospel. (Acts 9:25; Joshua 2:15-16; 2 Corinthians 11:32-33)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the thousands of Iraqi Christian refugees forced by ISIS to flee to northern Iraq where they are homeless and without jobs. Pray that the Lord will make a way for them to survive.

Day 5

Morning Prayer

Pray that the persecuted will rejoice in the knowledge that the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matt 5:10, 2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 3:14; Rev 20:4)

Evening Prayer

Pray for Eyob Mussie and the thousands of Eritrean Christians held in dungeon-like prisons. Pray that the God of grace and mercy grant them healing and deliverance.

Day 6

Morning Prayer

Pray that they are able to rejoice in the face of suffering knowing they have a great reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:12, Acts 5:40-41)

Evening Prayer

Pray for churches in Mexico targeted by drug cartels because of their rehabilitation programs. Pray they are successful in rehabilitating former drug addicts and in sharing the life transforming gospel message.

Day 7

Morning Prayer

Pray that the persecuted are able to forgive and to love their persecutors. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60, Rom 12:14)

Evening Prayer

In the United Arab Emirates, the government classifies all citizens as Muslims. The penalty for conversion to Christianity is death. Pray that the government allows its citizens freedom to choose Christianity - freedom to choose eternal life.

Day 8

Morning Prayer

Pray that the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say and pray that they speak in a way that makes the gospel message clear. (Matthew 10:19 and Colossians 4:3-4)

Evening Prayer

Pray that Christians in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan are kept safe from church bombings. Pray that they find unique and creative ways to come together when no church building is available.

Day 9

Morning Prayer

Pray, as Yeshua prayed, that they would be protected from the evil one. (John 17:15)

Evening Prayer

In roughly 52 countries, it is illegal to own a Bible. In North Korea, anyone caught with a Bible is sentenced to prison along with three generations of his or her family. Pray that Bibles and Christian materials get to Believers and remain undetected by the police and government.

Day 10

Morning Prayer

Pray that, even in the face of persecution, the Lord will enable them to speak the Word with great boldness, without fear and with all confidence. (Acts 4:29)

Evening Prayer

Well over 10,000 people in Nigeria and Cameroon have been forced to flee from violent attacks by Boko Haram. Pray that they find shelter and that they are protected from further attacks.

Day 11

Morning Prayer

Pray that those who discriminate against, oppress and torment Christians will repent, turn from their wicked ways, and turn to God. (Acts 9:5-6, 15)

Evening Prayer

Pray for Open Doors, Voice of Martyrs, Barnabas Aid and other Christian organizations providing food, shelter, medical aid and trauma counseling to persecuted Christians worldwide.

Day 12

Morning Prayer

Pray that those who are singled out, ridiculed and harassed because they follow the Savior will never be ashamed of their faith in the Gospel of Christ. (Romans 1:16)

Evening Prayer

Pray for "Musa" and other former Muslims who have been disowned by their families. Pray they are embraced by Believers and welcomed into their new family in Christ.

Day 13

Morning Prayer

Pray that the persecuted see their troubles as brief and insignificant, not worth comparing to the eternal glory that will be given to them. (2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 8:18)

Evening Prayer

Pray for former Muslims who, having found salvation in Christ, risk being targeted for abuse and/or killed by their own families or communities. Pray for their safety.

Day 14

Morning Prayer

Pray that those called to be His holy people are not tempted to repay evil with evil, instead they will trust in the Lord to execute vengeance. (Romans 12:19)

Evening Prayer

Pray that Christians who meet in secrete underground churches are not discovered and that they will grow in numbers and in faith.

Day 15

Morning Prayer

Pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ feel connected to the worldwide body of believers. Pray that they stand strong in their faith knowing that the Lord's people throughout the world are having the same kinds of suffering. (1 Corinthians 12:20, 26; 1 Peter 5:9)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the effectiveness of evangelistic outreaches through radio and satellite TV, social media and the Internet. Pray for creativity in the use of smart phone apps for sharing the gospel.

Day 16

Morning Prayer

Pray that ministers and Christian workers will give themselves fully to the work of the Lord knowing that united with the Lord, their labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Evening Prayer

Pray that God's hand of protection surround pastors and Christian workers who minister in hostile Muslim areas.

Day 17

Morning Prayer

Pray that when the weight of persecution seems beyond their ability to endure, they will rely on God's strength to deliver them and not their own strength. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)

Evening Prayer

Pray that governments will not enforce Islamic Sharia Law, laws of apostasy, blasphemy and proselytizing.

Day 18

Morning Prayer

Pray that imprisoning followers of Jesus serves as an opportunity to spread the gospel behind prison walls. Pray that God prepares the hearts and minds of prison guards and the prison population to receive the message of life. Also, pray that their imprisonment will inspire other Believers to speak clearly and confidently the Word of God without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14, Colossians 4:3-4)

Evening Prayer

Pray that Al-Qaeda's influence and that of other militant Islamist organizations is stifled.

Day 19

Morning Prayer

Pray that they will be content whatever the circumstances, relying on Christ to give them strength. (Philippians 4:11-13, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, 2 Timothy 4:16-18)

Evening Prayer

Pray for those imprisoned for their faith. Pray that what Satan meant for evil, God will use for His glory. May the gospel set prisoners free from the power of sin, while behind prison bars.

Day 20

Morning Prayer

Pray that God will open doors of opportunity for His people to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. (Colossians 4:3)

Evening Prayer

Pray that governments cease closing churches, that attacks on places of worship end, and that Christians are allowed to worship in peace and safety.

Day 21

Morning Prayer

Pray that those who have lost loved ones will find both comfort and joy in knowing that they will see their loved ones again at the coming of the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

Evening Prayer

Pray for unity among all of God's people.

Day 22

Morning Prayer

Pray for governments, political leaders, and all those in positions of authority to allow Christians freedom to live, work, and worship God in peace and safety. (1 Timothy 2:2)

Evening Prayer

Pray for Muslim Background Believers in Christ and converts from other religions. Pray that they are embraced by other Christians and encouraged to stay strong in the Lord though they face intense persecution from their families and communities.

Day 23

Morning Prayer

Pray that churches will continue to meet, and grow, in spite of persecution. (Hebrews 10:25)

Evening Prayer

Pray that Christian leaders receive proper training, bibles and Christian resources needed to shepherd their flocks effectively.

Day 24

Morning Prayer

Pray that Christians driven out of their homes, having lost property and personal possessions, remain joyful knowing they have something better–something that will last forever. (Hebrews 10:34)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the rebuilding of homes, churches, Christian businesses and communities destroyed by radical Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Animists and other nonbelievers.

Day 25

Morning Prayer

Pray for the Lord's people to remember all Jesus patiently endured and that this encourages them to not grow weary and give up. (Hebrews 12:3)

Evening Prayer

Pray that threatened Believers find refuge in safe houses.

Day 26

Morning Prayer

Pray that beleaguered Christians remain joyful in the face of discrimination and persecution and confident that the testing of their faith will produce in them spiritual maturity.(James 1:2-4)

Evening Prayer

Pray that members of the Taliban and other Muslim terrorist groups hear the gospel, believe, turn from their evil ways and become protectors of Christians.

Day 27

Morning Prayer

Pray that God generously supplies His practical, divine, Christlike wisdom to all who follow His Son, and pray they exercise His wisdom in all situations. (James 1:5)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the families of Christian martyrs. Pray that God's shalom - peace that passes understanding - comfort them.

Day 28

Morning Prayer

Pray that faithful Believers be not afraid, worried, or ashamed. And pray that they praise the God of heaven because they are called by His name. (1 Peter 3:14; 1 Peter 4:16)

Evening Prayer

Pray for children denied enrollment into school because of the Christian faith of their parents.

Day 29

Morning Prayer

Pray that instead of asking "why me?" the persecuted will accept that trials come to prove their faith is genuine. When they have passed the test, they will receive praise, glory, and honor when Christ returns. (1 Peter 1:7)

Evening Prayer

Pray that Christians denied employment, health care, housing and necessities such as water depend on the "Lord Who Provides". Pray He supplies their every need.

Day 30

Morning Prayer

Pray that Christians facing opposition and violence be not afraid and remain faithful, even to the point of death. May they find strength and comfort in the knowledge that their reward is everlasting life. (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)

Evening Prayer

Pray for the women and girls kidnapped, raped, forced to convert to Islam and given to Boko Haram and ISIS soldiers as "wives". Pray for their rescue or escape, and pray that they receive trauma counseling and support by the Christian community.

Our Anchor in the Storm: A Prayer for the Persecuted

Almighty God, Eternal Father, may Your persecuted sons and daughters in Christ rejoice in the sure hope of their eternal inheritance; an inheritance beyond what any eye has seen, or ear heard, or has entered into the heart of man. May this hope be a strong and secure anchor for their souls in times of trouble. Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen.