This is a prayer for conversion from hatred of the church to love for it. I wrote it many years ago when I learned about the persecuted church and how many people hate the Christian church. It’s not included in my book “Praying Our Way Through Stress: Drawing Wisdom from the Lord’s Life and Prayer” but I think that is what Saul did for three years before his name was changed to Paul.

“Heavenly Father,
In your will and with great power you sent your Holy Spirit to fall upon Saul while he was in the midst of battle against your people. We pray God that you would do the same today upon all those who set out to destroy your Holy Church. Heavenly Father, bring them to their knees in awe and reverence. Reveal yourself to them in such a way that they can no longer turn away from you but can only seek you and your grace. Help them to know that there is nothing they can do which will separate them from your love for them and that you do not desire for them to perish or be condemned but for them to be enlightened and to live in newness of life to the end of their days. Then Lord, give them breath and life and mouths to praise you for their redemption. Help them to lead others to the knowledge of your love and your call for them to be people of submission to your will and plan of prosperity for their family, their city, their state, their nation, your world. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN”

The Story of Saul’s Conversion is the inspiration of this prayer. That story can be found in The Book of Acts Chapters 8 and 9.

I always figured there had to have been people praying for the Spirit of the Lord to fall upon Saul so the violence and persecution would end. We need to do this in every generation, everywhere. As Christians we must be careful not to persecute one another for a different way of praying. It is our belief that unites us in the Spirit of God, not the way we worship.