Persecution

According to the recently published Open Doors USA 2022 World Watch List, “360 million Christians (an increase of 20 million compared to last year) live in places where they experience high levels of persecution, just for following Jesus. That’s 1 in 7 believers, worldwide.” Christians in Afghanistan are now considered the most heavily persecuted in the world (surpassing a North Korea that has held the top spot for the previous twenty years). Let’s pause today and pray for our fellow family members in Christ who live under the grave threat of persecution, confinement and death each and every day simply because they love Christ. Just as Peter was miraculously freed from prison in answer to prayer, the same could happen today as a result of your fervent intercession. Now that’s something to pray about!

William Seymour

As we celebrate Black History Month throughout February, I wanted to draw our attention to William Seymour. Seymour, an African-American pastor best known for his leadership during the Azusa Street revival in the early 1900s, was known as a meek man of prayer. The approximately three-year-long revival he led was remarkable in that, during a time of segregation, people from virtually every nationality, race and culture were attending services. Seeing this first-hand, one man remarked: “the color line has been washed away by the blood (of Jesus).” As we seek revival in our churches and communities today, let’s pray not only for a renewed spiritual fervor, but also a unity like in the days of Azusa under William Seymour. Now that’s something to pray about!

God's Love

Paul prayed that the Christians in Ephesus would be able comprehend the “width and length and depth and height” of the love of Christ. I find these words from Ephesians 3:18 to be an amazing description of how vast God’s love is—a love Jonathan Edwards described as “an ocean without shore or bottom.” You know, it’s not uncommon for me to talk to people who feel like God is mostly mad at them, or sadly disappointed in them for some reason. The truth is, though, that He could not love us more. He went to the cross to prove it. Friend, just remember today that when you lift your voice in prayer, God smiles with delight. You are His beloved child. He loves you so much. Now that’s something to pray about!

Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I wanted to take a moment to highlight Saint Valentine himself. Valentine, who lived during the third century, was a church leader in the Roman empire and was known to minister to persecuted Christians. He was eventually martyred for his faith in Christ, having only lived into his early forties, and was buried on February 14. During this year’s “day of love,” as we hand out the candy hearts, chocolates, flowers and cards, let’s not forget Saint Valentine’s example. And please join me this week in praying that we would grow in a selfless and sacrificial love like his—a love that reminds us of someone else who selflessly and sacrificially gave His life for us: Jesus. Now that’s something to pray about!

Support

This week marks the 52nd episode of Prayer Point, which means—by the grace of God—we’ve been filling the airwaves throughout central Illinois with inspirational and Christ-exalting prayer segments for a whole year. It’s gone so fast! Today, I’m asking that you would prayerfully consider supporting the Greater Peoria House of Prayer. Your generosity helps us to continue airing Prayer Point segments all year long. Also, if Prayer Point has blessed and helped you this past year, I would love to hear from you. The contact and donation information is on our website. Thanks so much for being a listener, and for helping us remain faithful to our mission in 2022. Now that’s something to pray about!