11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. – 2 Cor.1:11 NLT
When we read these verses, we need to consider our brothers and sisters who live in places where persecution and imprisonment are still common practice today. They need our prayers and our encouragement on a daily basis. There are numerous testimonies from these Christians about being able to endure their harsh treatment because they received cards and/or knew that other Christians were praying for them daily. They, as Paul, have learned to rely on God to deliver them from deadly perils. Until recently we, in the free world, have not been subject to such unfair and brutal treatment. That time has passed and we are being tested here in America, as well as other so called free countries. Christians are being ridiculed, beaten to death and imprisoned for refusing to deny their faith and their beliefs. We need to pray and encourage each other daily. Our hope is still in Jesus Christ. He is our Redeemer, our Savior and our Lord. There is no other God that is capable of loving their followers and delivering them from every situation. We need to understand that sometimes that deliverance includes physical death. But we need to count it all joy and say along with Paul:
20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. — Phil. 1:20-21 NIV
“The Gospel has come to you because it’s on its way to someone else.” – Anonymous
Morning Meds (Take 1 each Morning with all the Prayer You Need) 