Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

February 11, 2011   



from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:147)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Sister Maria

With our full schedules today we have little time to study the Word of God and pray. We have either been so busy - and thus too tired to pray - or we sleep-in the next morning (because we went to bed so late!). So we always seem to have an excuse for not praying.

Satan does not mind if we work overtime - even if it is for the Lord - as long as he can keep us away from praying and studying the Word of God.

Somebody once said, "If the first minute is for God, the whole day will be. If the first minute is not spent with God, neither will the remainder of the day."

There is never an excuse for not praying. Let us get our priorities right. We will soon discover that the time spent in fellowship with God, will enable us to face the remainder of the day in peace and victory.

Have you lost your peace, your victory? It can be found again. Take time to pray and to read God's Word.

Sister Maria from Mozambique. She had been imprisoned under severe circumstances. Sister Maria uses a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

February 12, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Throughout the ages, this psalm, more than any other psalm, has been an encouragement and comfort to countless people. David knows prosperity and adversity. He has experienced "the valley of the shadow of death." But he also knows the God who is always with him. His faith in that God makes him triumph over all suffering and pain. "For you are with me."

David

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name"s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23)

Copyright [C] 1995 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

[Judy Harder]

February 13, 2011   


from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:

Brother Jacob

I was very burdened by the problems of my people who suffered so much under a communist government. Pastors were executed, Bibles were burnt and many Christians thrown into prison.

I decided to visit the Christians in some remote areas, to encourage them and give them new Bibles. I had to travel by car to a remote area in a convoy, because it was too dangerous to travel alone.  At a road block the convoy was stopped. Some armed soldiers came up to my car and arrested me. Everything was confiscated - my car, my personal belongings, my money and all the Bibles.

The soldiers put me into an army vehicle and took me to prison. My first question was, "But Lord, why me? I want to serve you, but how can I serve you in prison?" Then I remembered a meeting I had had with some pastors in that part of the country. They were burdened with the many people in prison. We decided to pray and ask the Lord to burden someone with a love for these people and to send such a person to them with the Gospel of salvation.

Little did I realize at that time that I was to be the man to bring them the Gospel.

We can become the answer to our own prayers. Are you willing?

Brother Jacob from Mozambique. He and Open Doors work closely together.

[Judy Harder]

February 14, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1)

Brother Jacob

After being thrown into prison I had to undergo hours of harsh interrogation. Finally I was brought to a dirty cell in which a number of other prisoners were sitting or standing around. It was a group of pathetic, dirty and hungry human beings - my co-inhabitants for an undisclosed time.

One man looked at me and asked, "What are you here for?" Yes indeed, why was I there? For no other reason than for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I realized that the Lord had placed me amongst these captives because they were there without hope. They were not just physically hungry, but also spiritually. I started to witness to them and the response was beyond belief! Two of the prisoners were back-sliding Christians. As soon as I started to speak about love and forgiveness they started to cry. They fell on their knees, confessing their sins, weeping bitter tears of repentance. Others followed their example and in the following three months many accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

That dark, dirty, smelling prison cell became a place of light. Such was the change that two prison wardens also accepted the Lord. The place of curses changed into a holy sanctuary, filled with songs of praise and hope.

We all can be fruitful in the place where we are. To the glory of God and to the salvation of others.

Brother Jacob from Mozambique. He and Open Doors work closely together.

[Judy Harder]

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him  (Acts 12:5)

Brother Jacob

With me in the cell was a man accused of co-operating with a rebel group in our country. This was never proven however, but in a Marxist country, proof is not essential. Even the least suspicion is enough for you to face a firing squad. We all knew that within the next week this man would be executed. He was filled with fear and listened very attentively to the Gospel.

One day we decided to stand around him and pray for him. His heart cried to God. We worked out a plan to get him out of prison. We did not know if our plan would work, but we prayed and planned his escape. Every morning we were taken from the cell under armed guard to wash. When an armed soldier opened the door, we were marched down the corridor. Another soldier, with a machine gun, stood at the entrance to the washroom. As agreed, we all turned straight into the washroom, except our friend who kept walking straight on, into freedom. The two armed guards did not make a move to prevent him from escaping, for at that moment their eyes were blinded, just as we had prayed.

Joy filled our hearts when we witnessed this miracle. Yes, miracles can still happen if you stand in prayer around those in captivity.

Brother Jacob from Mozambique. He and Open Doors work closely together.

[Judy Harder]

The Lord provides food for those who fear him. (Psalm 111:5)

Brother Jacob

When I was arrested I was worried about my family. How would they cope without me? I realized however that to worry about them would not solve their problems; neither would it make prison life easier for me. At the same time I had to prove to my fellow prisoners that, as a Christian, I had no reason to worry. I prayed for my family, that the Lord would take care of them.

Some weeks after my arrest, a woman brought some food to me in prison. This is a custom in our country. The food was nicely prepared, a bowl of rice with meat on top. I started eating the food with great enjoyment. When I got close to the bottom I saw that something was hidden there. I carefully scraped the rice away with the spoon to find a tiny plastic bag. Inside the bag was only a piece of paper. My hands shook as I pulled the scrap of paper from the plastic. It was a very short note from the lady who had brought me the food, saying, "Your family is fine. Other Christians are looking after them. We pray for you." Peace and joy flowed into my heart.

Worry breaks us down. Trust builds us up. Put your trust in the Lord - for yourself, your loved ones and for your fellow Christians, because He cares.

Brother Jacob from Mozambique. He and Open Doors work closely together.

[Judy Harder]

February 17, 2011   
 
from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  (James 5:16b)

Brother Jacob

That short message on a piece of paper, hidden in a rice bowl was a tremendous assurance of God's faithfulness to me and to my family. At the same time I was well aware of the prayers of others for me.

What encouraged me greatly was the news which I received through local Christians who visited me in prison that brothers and sisters around the world were praying for me.

When someone was led away from the prison cell we would often hear the muffled gunshots somewhere in the prison complex. I often thought that it could be my turn tomorrow. "Father, please tell your children around the world to pray for me."  I believe He did. I believe they did. Oh, how I could rest in the knowledge and comfort of those prayers, regardless of what tomorrow would bring. May I encourage you today with these words:

Your prayers are heard-

Your prayers are answered-

Your prayers for us are experienced by us.

What a great spiritual bond - all over the world.

Brother Jacob from Mozambique. He and Open Doors work closely together.

[Judy Harder]

     
Will you stand in the gap and pray?

Everywhere we look it seems that violence is breaking out in the world with storms of persecution raining down on Christians in many countries.

In the Standing Strong Through the Storm devotional, author Paul Estabrooks quotes a Christian leader in a country suffering persecution who related, "In our country, we live in the midst of a pressure cooker. To survive as Christians, we must have a pressure cooker faith. Our young people decide for Christ not because He offers them the most, or because it is fashionable, but because they consider that here is One worth dying for."

Certainly that has been the case in Iraq where a large number of Christians have either been killed or fled their homes because of threats of persecution. At least 37 people were killed and 50 or 60 injured in the brutal November attack on a Catholic church in Baghdad. A car bomb attack last spring near the northern city of Mosel targeted three busloads of Christian students. These stories dishearten us. As you read this stories stop and pray. Every time you read or hear of an unjust act against a fellow Christian...stop and pray. As they face their hardships they draw strength and encouragement from knowing that they have not been forgotten by the family of God.

"I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one." Ezekiel 22:30

Will you stand in the gap? The first and most important thing you can do is pray. Register to receive the free Weekly Prayer Alert offered by Open Doors where you can read recent stories and testimonies from our brothers and sisters in faith and join in prayer for their most urgent needs. Sign-up today for the Open Doors Weekly Prayer Alert. 

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2011   

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. (Psalm 40:1)

Jan Pit

One day I visited the cave prisons in Kampala, Uganda, a place of horror where the dictator Idi Amin punished and killed innocent prisoners.

One of the men about to be killed was Joshua, a pastor of a Full Gospel Church in Kampala. Joshua had always preached a message of love and forgiveness. Miracles had taken place in his church. God was at work.

Idi Amin's secret police reported the tremendous growth of the church to the dictator, who in turn ordered the arrest of Pastor Joshua. He was thrown into this cave prison, waiting to be executed. He cried to the Lord, "Lord, I am scared. Help me Lord. No, I am not afraid to die, but I am afraid of the torture that will take place before they kill me." (Many prisoners were not killed by a bullet, but by a sledgehammer.)  "Lord, let the first hit be fatal ... please".

A miracle took place in that dark cell. Joshua described it as follows, "All of a sudden a light shone into my dark cell. I heard a voice say, "You are not alone - I am with you - always."

All fear disappeared; I knelt down praising the Lord. I must have sung at the top of my voice, because suddenly the door to my cell opened and two policemen dragged me out. I thought the moment had come to be killed, but I kept on praising my Lord. When the officer saw me and heard me singing, he said to the two policemen, "This man is insane - it is no use killing him. Throw him out." A moment later I was a free man.

May I share with you what I learned?

1.   We are never alone - never - never.

2.  There is power in praising God.

3.   God is always in control.

What more can a man desire?

[Judy Harder]

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


Some Bible expositors think this psalm was sung when the Ark was brought back to Israel. Others see in this psalm a type of Christ.

In both views, the Lord is central. Real peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of the Prince of Peace - Christ the Lord.

David

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;
for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
(Psalm 24:1-8)