In a culture where “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is pretty normative, the words of Jesus to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” are pretty radical.

Lord Jesus, we ask for your disciples in Libya to walk in such radical love that those around them would marvel and wonder at the difference they see in their lives. We pray for your Spirit to empower them to love those who hate them and forgive those who treat them wrongly.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Gal. 6:9)

Father, we pray a blessing of perseverance and strength for all those laboring in the country of Libya today. Let them be reminded of your promise that in due season they will reap that which they have sown and help them to trust you with every seed which they sow.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

Help us Lord as your people, the church, to be continually rejoicing and praying as we set our gazes upon you and the eternal hope we have received in you. When we face trials, help us and the Libyan believers to not become anxious but bring all of our needs to you in prayer with thanksgiving.

“But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4:20)

Amen! Let it be so in Libya that among every people group and tribe your Word would fall on hearts of good soil leading to reproducing, multiplying movements of people coming to Christ. We pray that among the new believers their hearts would be good soil and that each one would reproduce as well.

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)

Let love and honor for one another be marks of your church in Libya, Lord God. We pray for men and women who selflessly love one another and see the value in each member of the body.

Jesus described the seeds that fell among thorns as those who after hearing the word, “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mark 4:19)

Lord God, we continue to pray for new believers in Libya that they would taste of your goodness and be convinced of the great value of your kingdom that nothing in this world would prove to be as enticing as following you and your commands. For those who have let desires for other things enter in and choke out your word, we pray for conviction and repentance.

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” (Romans 12:9)

Father, we ask for the believers of Libya to be ones who distinguish between what is good and evil according to what is in your Word. Let them be unwavering and steadfast in their convictions, and we pray that the lost around them would be drawn to you as they see the differences in their lives.

“Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.” (Mark 4:5-6)

Father, we lift up the new believers who have come to faith in the last few months that they would become abiding, obedient, fruit-bearing disciples and not ones who fall away when tribulation or persecution comes. Let their roots go down deep into the soil as they read your Word. We ask for faithful discipleship to occur with each one.

Peter admonishes the church in 1 Peter 4:8, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Let the members of the body in Libya today love one another earnestly without judgment or envy. We pray for reconciliation and restoration of broken relationships among the members of the body. Thank you that your love covers a multitude of sins!

In Mark 4:15, Jesus describes the seeds that fall along the path as the ones who hear the Word but Satan immediately comes and takes it away. Father, we know that many seeds sown in Libya have fallen on the path. We ask you merciful Father to transform and change these hearts of men and women who have heard the truth but it’s taken no root. In your mercy, rescue these souls and give them another opportunity to receive your grace.