How To Pray For People In Afghanistan

I want to pray this over our day: “Father, we’re thankful for another day of life, and we just bring all of our cares and our worries and the things that are floating around in our heads and our hearts to You. We thank You that You love us so much. We thank You that in all the things that are going on in the world around us, that in the midst of wanting to go, ‘aaagggghhhhh…Lord! What are You doing? Where are you? What’s going on? How, how, how??’ that You are present, and You’re steady. And even when we don’t understand here and now, eventually, we will. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your sovereignty, and Your goodness. And for the Word of God. In Your name we pray, Amen.”

Overwhelmed By The News

I’ve really been sheltering myself a lot. I tend to do that, because I have a very sensitive heart and a very sensitive spirit. My husband is a news person- he likes to keep up with the news and so he had the news on and he was sharing some things with me that have been going on in Afghanistan and my heart was just breaking. I was like, “Honey, I just can’t hear anymore.”

I’ve been so burdened by it. It’s like I’m caught between wanting to know so I can pray more, but then wanting to protect my heart. There’s just a lot going on in the world around us, but God is good and He’s faithful. I think about what people sacrifice that aren’t allowed to talk like we talk, and to celebrate who Jesus is. I pray that that freedom is never ever taken away from us. I wanted to read to you Romans 15.13 as we start our day together: 

Let God Fill You With Joy and Peace Through The Holy Spirit

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15.13

When I break that down a little bit, it says to me that because of the Holy Spirit living and dwelling within us, we can have hope regardless of circumstances because we know He is fighting our battles for us and He has gone before us. In all things, and with the Holy Spirit, we are filled with joy and peace in our days. Not based on circumstances. Not, “I’m going to be filled with joy and peace because my day is going well,” (which we tend to do…we are just human beings, and that’s the way it is.) But to say, “I’m going to choose to cling to the hem of Your garment, and have joy and peace no matter what I’m facing in the day ahead.” God cares about you, and He’s carrying you, even if you feel like you’re trudging through, just know you’re not alone. ~Lauren

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5.10-12 NIV

Prayers For People In Afghanistan

If you’d like to pray for people facing upheaval and violence in Afghanistan, here are a few prayer points based on ideas The Voice of the Martyrs has shared. 

• Pray for God’s protection.
• Pray for wisdom as believers try to discern whether to stay or to escape.
• Pray for safe passage for those led to leave. 
• For those who stay, pray the Holy Spirit will give them the right words for every situation.
• Pray for believers to be able to connect with other believers, for support and encouragement
• Pray that Muslims will come to faith in Jesus Christ.
• Pray for front-line workers trying to help, that God will open up pathways for them to continue work

Scriptures Prayers For The Persecuted Church

We know the Bible tells us in Ephesians 6.18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” When you’re not sure what to pray, use Scripture as a guide. Pray these Scriptures over the church and especially people facing persecution and hardship.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16.33

Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6.19-20

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12.9

And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1.7-9

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved- you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. Acts 16:25-33

We hope these prayer ideas and scriptures help you feel confident as you pray, believing God is still in control and is working even in these troubled times! ♥️