For Persecuted Christians

  As we pray and fast today for persecuted Christians around the world, the song "O Holy Night" was going around in my mind.  I thought that was really strange - a Christmas carol playing in my head while praying against persecution.  So I looked up the words.  The third verse and chorus, which I don't ever recall hearing, are as follows (according to Wikipedia).

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Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

  Today let us remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of evil and the ruling spirits of murder, hatred, slavery, persecution and oppression (Ephesians 6:12-13).  We do not seek revenge or retribution.

  Let us pray.  Jesus, we place ourselves within your hedge of protection as a surrounding barrier and we put ourselves under your wing.  We stand today with those who are too weak to stand, in too much pain or fear to utter a prayer.  And we command the powers of darkness to be dispelled by the light of Christ.  We tear down the strongholds of murder, hatred, slavery, and persecution. We break the chains of those who are enslaved.  We declare for all the world to hear that "Jesus Christ is Lord."