“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God” — 2 Timothy 1:8

People in China are reported to pray for the US to experience persecution. They believe we don’t know it, and, indeed, we do not know it as overtly as they know it. But I believe persecution is from Satan, and he is sly and cunning in his attacks.

We experience it every day as he assaults us through a society that denies Jesus in us; through worldly philosophy set to destabilize our faith and the practice of it; and through the battle waged in our own minds.

The overt persecution is, to me, easier to recognize the challenge of our need to stand against it, because it is “in your face” visible. You know it’s persecution requiring a determined response. The tactics used in America are covert. We don’t often realize it until we fall to it. Thus we pray for power to suffer for the gospel according to the Power of God.