This morning brings news that Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s execution order may have been issued by Iranian officials. Pastor Youcef has been illegally held in prison in Iran since 2009 for refusing to recant his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. How would you handle this injustice if it were your husband, your father, or yourself?
Our Congress is considering a resolution condemning Iran’s human rights violations and calling for Pastor Youcef’s release.
Whether this is more saber-rattling on the part of Iran or not, it is clear this pastor’s position grows more perilous with each day that passes as does Iran’s loud threats to Israel and America. Russia also issued a stern warning to Israel today that they better not launch a preemptive attack on Iran.
I read the 70th Psalm today and felt compelled to write asking you to pray this psalm on behalf of Pastor Youcef. The Word of God is powerful for the breaking down of strongholds.
In the course of leading GriefShare I suggest to those grieving, “When you don’t have the words or understanding of what or how to pray – speak the Word back to God. Personalize it and offer God His own words.”
Remember in Acts, Chapter 12, Peter was imprisoned and the church met to pray for his release? God sent His angel to release Peter from jail and he went to the prayer meeting. Those praying for him wouldn’t believe God answered their prayers and wouldn’t let him in. They surmised it was Peter’s angel.
God always answers the prayers of His people. Lest we be smug, thinking it couldn’t happen to us – not here in America. At any given moment we are a breath away from persecution. Is this prophecy being fulfilled? I don’t know. But I know we are called to pray.
Praying this psalm back to God could sound something like this but you pray as God leads you:
“O Lord God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, hurry to deliver Pastor Youcef. Please hurry to help him. Let those be ashamed and humiliated who seek his life. Let them be turned back and dishonored who delight in his hurt.
Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. And let those who love Your salvation say continually ‘Let God be magnified.’
But Lord, Pastor Youcef is afflicted and needy today. Please hurry to him, O God. You are his only help and deliverer. Lord, do not delay. Please deliver him.”
May God bless you for your faithfulness to pray.
MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES 
Your passion regarding this situation is evident and appropriate, DiAne. Thank you for igniting my passion as well.
Your care to provide Ps 70 as a source not only makes it easy for me to pray immediately but also reminds of the beauty and power of praying the Word. K.
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Kathleen, thanks for agreeing to pray in one accord. God has answered prayer for Dick and me this week in a marvelous and miraculous way and I know He will answer prayers for Pastor Youcef too.
DiAne
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I am ashamed to say that I didn’t even know this story. Must have missed this on the news. All that time that I could have been praying for him and his family is gone. I still have the present, and I will make use of it to pray for the safe return of this man of God. You ask what would I do if it were my husband or my father? I can’t know all of how I would feel, but I am certain I would be on my knees for hours every day, begging the Lord to find favor and release him. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get 100,000 Christians to all pray at the same time for his release? I know that however this turns out, the testimony of this man and what he went through will be told.
Tonya
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Tonya, thank you for responding and binding together with us. I don’t know what God has planned in all this but He does. Spread the word so that others will join us as we storm heaven’s gates with prayer for this man, his family, and praise for our Sovereign Lord God Almighty.
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What a lovely site.
And what a powerful request to pray for a Christian brother. I believe we will see God’s hand move on the situation.
The whole world is watching. But more than that – God sees and hears.
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Patricia, thank you for comments and for uniting your heart with ours in prayer. I too believe we will see God’s hand deliver Pastor Youcef. When He does, we must be careful to give God and not man the glory.
DiAne
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