Dear God Almighty,
I come before your Throne in humble adoration. My heart is yours. My words are Yours. Father God, this very time in prayer is yours. Lord, pour out the words You would have our hearts pray for today. Selah
God, persecution is real. This heartache is happening throughout your created world. Brothers and sisters being imprisoned and abused and murdered for believing in Jesus Christ. Just for believing on Jesus. This concept is heartbreaking. Yet, it is the purest display of the evidential proof that Jesus truly is the name above all names. For if it were not true then why is there such hated and fear when others demonstrate love and adoration to His Name?
Why is Your Name so despised?
Jesus, the same name that causes my heart to catch its breath each time I hear it is the same name that causes a human to cring and deflect pain upon another human. How is that possible? Why is the emotion of Your Name so great? What is it about your name?
Jesus
Scripture is flooding my soul with the written answers of old. From Old Testament prophecies to written events throughout the New Testament to historical records that coincide with news headlines around the world.
Jesus
The sweetest name I know.
A stumbling block to some. A cornerstone to others.
Resurrected Son of God. Threat to a broken society.
King of kings and Lord of lords. Compitition to religion.
A light in the darkness! A light to the dark.
A healer of wounds. A reveler of truth.
A comfort to sorrow. A promised vengence.
A narrow road.
A promised path.
Truth.
Life
Life worth living.
Life worth dying for.
Jesus, your name is powerfully intimidating to the soul who desires power and authority. Your name gets in their way. Your name alone causes their quieted heart to question themselves. Your name pricks their inner core. Your name offers something that they can not attain on their own. Therefore, your name causes them to feel weak and powerless.
But Your Name is mighty to save. Your Name lifts up and strengthens. Your Name allows your church to be a light on the hill. Your Name shines! It shines through the very creation that calls upon Your Name. That Shine cannot be hidden, it cannot be erased. It cannot be quenched or silenced or darkened or lost.
Jesus Christ, I am your follower. I stand on that cornerstone. And I walk with my brothers and sisters. And I pray, God Almighty, for protection upon those who are being persecuted for Your name this very minute. Stop, I pray, the hands that harm your children right now, I pray this in the power of Your Most Powerful Name, Jesus! Silence the words of hatred that are spilling out upon your followers this day!
And Father God save the soul of the one who hates your Son’s name.
Amen.