I’ve been thinking a lot about a prayer Paul wrote while he was in chains. It’s found in Ephesians 3:14–21. Paul wasn’t writing from a place of comfort. He was suffering because he followed Jesus. And yet, what he prayed for other believers wasn’t escape or safety — it was strength.

He prayed that God would strengthen them in their inner being, that Christ would dwell deeply in their hearts, that they would be rooted and grounded in love, and that they would truly know the love of Christ — even when life was hard and painful.

That prayer feels especially close to home when I think about our brothers and sisters who are living under persecution today. Too often, we in the “comfortable” church think this passage is a wonderful prayer of comfort, allowing us to rest in God’s love and His strength. But it was written to people who were living difficult lives because of their faith in Christ.

Many of them face daily pressure because of their faith - from family rejection to job loss, from harassment to real physical danger. Some worship in secret. Some have lost homes or loved ones. And yet, again and again, what they ask us for most is not comfort, but prayer for courage and faithfulness.

They need exactly what Paul prayed for:

- Strength on the inside, when everything on the outside feels uncertain.

- Roots that go deep into Christ’s love, when the world around them feels hostile.

- Hearts filled with God’s presence, when fear tries to take over.

Paul ends his prayer by reminding us that God is able to do far more than we can ask or even imagine, according to His power at work within us. That same power is at work today in believers who meet quietly, who whisper their prayers, who choose to follow Jesus even when it costs them dearly.

As you read the stories found in our Prayer Letters, would you join me in praying this passage, Ephesians 3:14–21, over the persecuted church?

- Pray that they would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

- Pray that they would know, deeply and personally, how much Christ loves them.

- Pray that they would stand firm, even when they feel weak.

- Pray that God would use their witness to draw others to Himself.

Thank you for continuing to stand with them through your prayers. Your faithfulness matters more than you know, and the Lord hears every prayer lifted in secret and in faith.

With sincere thanks,

Brother Dave

A Servant to the Body of Christ