A Prayer Guide for North Korea
There has been reports recently of the North Korean leader, Kim Jung Un, being in frail condition with his health. While we don’t know his true physical condition at this moment, we do know he and his nation need our prayers. How interesting it is that the timing of this news came while we are going through this pandemic of Covid-19 and while God has given us more space to pray throughout our days. May we heed His call in this hour to pray - for our nation and for the nations. I believe God is calling us to pray for North Korea in this hour. Here is a simple outline (P.R.I.N.C.E.) that can guide our prayers for that part of the world.
Pray for Peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9 ESV)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.” (Psalm 122:6-9 ESV)
Jesus is the Prince of peace, so we pray to Him to bring His peace into this divided nation. Though Korea is one nation and one people group, it has been divided into North and South Korea since the end of WWII in 1945. The division between the political borders that separates these families is not God’s will. Pray for a peaceful reunification, without warfare or bloodshed. Pray for godly wisdom and council to guide President Moon of South Korea.
Pray for Restoration
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25 ESV)
Life in Christ brings restoration. Things that were broken bring blessings. Things that were barren become fruitful. Even with the loss of loved ones, faith in Christ eliminates goodbyes forever. There is always hope that is found in Jesus.
The locusts have eaten away so much life, food, and hope in North Korea. So many families have been separated for decades. So many lives are malnourished and dying. I went to North Korea several years ago and was shocked to see 12 year old boys look like 6 year olds because of malnutrition. They need bread. But they also need the Bread from heaven - Jesus Christ. Pray that God will restore this nation with life again.
Pray for Intercessors
Pray that more people will pray. Pray that God would raise up faithful, persistent intercessors for North and South Korea in this critical hour.
“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30 ESV)
God is always looking for intercessors. God is seeking for hearts that are seeking for Him. The world looks for the prettiest, the richest, or the strongest. But God looks for those who pray. “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8 ESV) The nations belong to those who pray for them. Intercession is the path for our inheritance. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV) Pray for more workers to be sent into North Korea. Two other guides that can help you pray for the nations are the books Praying for Your Missionary and Operation World. The day is approaching when North Korea will be free from her oppression. Pray for God to prepare His people for that day.
Pray for New Leadership
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV)
God calls His people to pray for the leaders of our land and the leaders of the nations. And especially now, in this urgent hour, we must pray for Kim, Jung Un. While we don’t know the condition of his health, we do know the condition of his soul. And he is someone in need of God’s saving grace. Pray for his salvation. Pray for justice and righteousness to reign in North Korea. Pray for the eyes of his heart to be enlightened to see the beauty of Christ and to know His saving grace. Pray for God to raise up godly leaders in North and South Korea to wisely govern the people of those lands.
Pray for the Churches in Korea
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
Pray for the churches in South Korea to be ready to go in and serve those in the North. And to be ready, we need to pray that the churches in Korea will be godly, humble, and hungry churches again. Pray that Korea would repent of her sins of greed, materialism, racism, and idolatry. Pray that South Korea would repent of sacrificing their children on the altar of education. Pray for idols to burn and hearts to return to the True Savior of our souls. Pray that God would give the churches in the South a heart to sacrificially love, serve, and ready themselves to embrace the North - as neighbors, as family. And let us pray for the church in North Korea to remain steadfast and faithful, despite the persecution they face for their faith.
Pray for the Evangelization of North Korea
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)
Our lives are about Jesus. Our lives are about making Him known where He is not yet known. Our aim is the spreading of His fame. Our goal is the salvation of the soul. That peoples would praise Him, that all the peoples would praise Him. Pray for a revival in North Korea and that the millions would know the sweet saving power of the cross. Pray for a revival in the Church in Korea.
People of God in Korea. And people of God around the world. We must stay in prayer for this one nation of Korea. There is a huge shaking happening right now. And God has put you in this land, in this hour, for such a time as this. I have been praying that God's shaking would lead to a great awakening. May the idols of Korea burn and may the people's hearts return to Jesus Christ today. Jesus is Lord over North Korea. Jesus is Lord over South Korea. And He loves this nation deeply.
Let us seek His heart. Let us delight His heart. Let us pray.
There has been reports recently of the North Korean leader, Kim Jung Un, being in frail condition with his health. While we don’t know his true physical condition at this moment, we do know he and his nation need our prayers. How interesting it is that the timing of this news came while we are going through this pandemic of Covid-19 and while God has given us more space to pray throughout our days. May we heed His call in this hour to pray - for our nation and for the nations. I believe God is calling us to pray for North Korea in this hour. Here is a simple outline (P.R.I.N.C.E.) that can guide our prayers for that part of the world.
Pray for Peace
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9 ESV)
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you! Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!” For my brothers and companions' sake I will say, “Peace be within you!” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.” (Psalm 122:6-9 ESV)
Jesus is the Prince of peace, so we pray to Him to bring His peace into this divided nation. Though Korea is one nation and one people group, it has been divided into North and South Korea since the end of WWII in 1945. The division between the political borders that separates these families is not God’s will. Pray for a peaceful reunification, without warfare or bloodshed. Pray for godly wisdom and council to guide President Moon of South Korea.
Pray for Restoration
“I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” (Joel 2:25 ESV)
Life in Christ brings restoration. Things that were broken bring blessings. Things that were barren become fruitful. Even with the loss of loved ones, faith in Christ eliminates goodbyes forever. There is always hope that is found in Jesus.
The locusts have eaten away so much life, food, and hope in North Korea. So many families have been separated for decades. So many lives are malnourished and dying. I went to North Korea several years ago and was shocked to see 12 year old boys look like 6 year olds because of malnutrition. They need bread. But they also need the Bread from heaven - Jesus Christ. Pray that God will restore this nation with life again.
Pray for Intercessors
Pray that more people will pray. Pray that God would raise up faithful, persistent intercessors for North and South Korea in this critical hour.
“And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30 ESV)
God is always looking for intercessors. God is seeking for hearts that are seeking for Him. The world looks for the prettiest, the richest, or the strongest. But God looks for those who pray. “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8 ESV) The nations belong to those who pray for them. Intercession is the path for our inheritance. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:37-38 ESV) Pray for more workers to be sent into North Korea. Two other guides that can help you pray for the nations are the books Praying for Your Missionary and Operation World. The day is approaching when North Korea will be free from her oppression. Pray for God to prepare His people for that day.
Pray for New Leadership
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV)
God calls His people to pray for the leaders of our land and the leaders of the nations. And especially now, in this urgent hour, we must pray for Kim, Jung Un. While we don’t know the condition of his health, we do know the condition of his soul. And he is someone in need of God’s saving grace. Pray for his salvation. Pray for justice and righteousness to reign in North Korea. Pray for the eyes of his heart to be enlightened to see the beauty of Christ and to know His saving grace. Pray for God to raise up godly leaders in North and South Korea to wisely govern the people of those lands.
Pray for the Churches in Korea
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV)
Pray for the churches in South Korea to be ready to go in and serve those in the North. And to be ready, we need to pray that the churches in Korea will be godly, humble, and hungry churches again. Pray that Korea would repent of her sins of greed, materialism, racism, and idolatry. Pray that South Korea would repent of sacrificing their children on the altar of education. Pray for idols to burn and hearts to return to the True Savior of our souls. Pray that God would give the churches in the South a heart to sacrificially love, serve, and ready themselves to embrace the North - as neighbors, as family. And let us pray for the church in North Korea to remain steadfast and faithful, despite the persecution they face for their faith.
Pray for the Evangelization of North Korea
“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15 ESV)
Our lives are about Jesus. Our lives are about making Him known where He is not yet known. Our aim is the spreading of His fame. Our goal is the salvation of the soul. That peoples would praise Him, that all the peoples would praise Him. Pray for a revival in North Korea and that the millions would know the sweet saving power of the cross. Pray for a revival in the Church in Korea.
People of God in Korea. And people of God around the world. We must stay in prayer for this one nation of Korea. There is a huge shaking happening right now. And God has put you in this land, in this hour, for such a time as this. I have been praying that God's shaking would lead to a great awakening. May the idols of Korea burn and may the people's hearts return to Jesus Christ today. Jesus is Lord over North Korea. Jesus is Lord over South Korea. And He loves this nation deeply.
Let us seek His heart. Let us delight His heart. Let us pray.
Eddie Byun is Associate Professor of Christian Ministry at Talbot School of Theology. He is the author of the award winning book Justice Awakening, Praying for Your Pastor, and Praying for Your Missionary. He is also the Executive Producer of Save My Seoul, an award winning documentary about sex trafficking in South Korea. He lives with his wife and son in Irvine, California.
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