Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
(Heb. 13:3 NIV)

Paul tells us clearly that we are to remember prisoners. The BBC have recently released a well-made series, Prisoner 951, documenting the story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s six long years of unjust imprisonment in Iran. It inevitably includes many harrowing moments, but is a powerful insight into the stifling atmosphere of this Islamic republic. This is the real story behind the film.

May the Lord find many ways to use this series, both to see what is going on, and to pray in the power of the Spirit for the believers who experience great pressure and persecution there. May they be supernaturally strengthened and, wherever possible, delivered.

The series reminded me of a presentation that I prepared some years ago based on the true story of a woman who was arrested and taken to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, Praying for Iran | Ruach Ministries. If you haven’t heard this presentation before, or haven’t heard it recently, do set time aside to listen and pray – and perhaps to pass it on to others as you are led.

We have made several other audio presentations to help us pray for those in prison. Perhaps you might like to set apart a few days specifically to pray for prisoners, using one of these each day. Don’t be afraid to let the spirit take you deep in prayer with these.

2) Prayer for those in Prison

3) The Prisoner (Emily Bronte)

4) The Voice of the Martyrs

4) Light into the darkness of Evin Prison

5) Ukraine has been imprisoned by a war entirely of Russia’s making and is under intense pressure. Please do take time to sit with the Lord with this heartfelt prayer for this country.

Photo by Ye Jinghan on Unsplash