In the past couple of weeks, we’ve learned about Saeed Abedini, a United States citizen who was sentenced to eight years of prison in Iran. His crime: being a Christian. Christians all over the world are circulating a petition and praying for his quick release. But isn’t there more we can be praying for?
How about we pray for his health and strength? We can also pray that he keeps his hold on God. Another thing we can pray for is that he blows the doors off this prison for Christ. Imagine what he could do in eight years? Pray that Saeed would be another Paul.
Acts 16:25 – 30 reads, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
By Paul showing his Christian walk, even at a time when escape might have been on the foremost of his mind, he brought not only prisoners, but a guard to Jesus. Imagine if God put Saeed in that Iranian prison for that exact same reason.
We don’t know what God has planned in our lives. You never know who will cross your path in a day, but they might be put there for you to show them God. You need to show his compassion to the sick, love to the loveless, and mercy to those needing forgiveness. Sometimes that’s not easy when all we want to do is get on with our lives.
But imagine being put in a prison thousands of miles away from your family, being tortured and beaten, and still showing those things. I pray Saeed has that will and faith inside him for that. It won’t be easy, but if he can come out of prison with a stronger hold of Jesus than when he went in, he can do wonderful things in this world.
I want you all to pray for Saeed’s strength. That he continually feels God’s loving arms around him. And then pray that he blows the doors off that prison, freeing the hearts of every prisoner and every guard he comes into contact with.
