Pause for Thought - August 2023

Dear Friends, 

We are more than halfway through praying for each of the countries on the Open Doors World Watch List 2023 containing the top 50 countries where Christians risk everything for Christ, and during August you are invited to pray for Morocco, Bangladesh, Laos, and Mozambique. The founder of Open Doors, Brother Andrew, is quoted as saying, “Don’t say ‘take care.’ Say ‘take risks!’” which is exactly what he did in 1955 attending a huge Socialist congress in Poland armed only with courage, faith and a suitcase full of gospel tracts, and then later smuggling Bibles into communist countries in Europe, earning the nickname ‘God’s Smuggler’. Today, Open Doors, continues to serve and support millions of Christians who face persecution and oppression.

A poem taken from the World Watch List 2023 Prayer Guide

Blessed are the risk-takers, the rebels and the rule-breakers.

Blessed are the grieving and the broken, blessed are the brave and outspoken.

Blessed are the hidden and disguised, who watch their words,

guard their footsteps, and fear for their lives.

Blessed are those in prison for their faith, blessed are those who are spied on by the state.

Blessed are the lied about and cheated, the unjustly accused, the abused, the mistreated.

Blessed are those who flee when they want to stay,

Blessed are those who remain, when they could run away.

Blessed are the refugee and the displaced, the exiled and excluded, the shamed and disgraced.

Blessed are those who worship in secret, who whisper their songs,

hide their Bibles, forgive those who do them wrong.

Blessed are those who are scared, but choose to follow just the same,

Blessed are those who are persecuted in Jesus’ name.

Blessed are the risk-takers, the rebels and the rule-breakers.

Blessed are those who have nothing but prayer,

for God is always with them and the kingdom is theirs.


Grace and peace,

Neil

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