The daily listings below will give you some insight to how Christians in the past and also the present day and time have suffered great pain and agony to serve our Lord & Saviour.
 

Foxholes in a schoolyard—they are all too
common in Southern Sudan. In the midst of
a play area surrounded by children running
and laughing sits a large metal cylinder with
fins on its tail buried halfway in the ground. A
flag sticks out from the unexploded bomb as
a reminder for the children to stay away
from it.
A missionary team recently delivered assistance to this
elementary school in Yei County. Like most areas in Sudan,
this school is barely able to function for lack of supplies and
qualified teachers. This particular school is in an area regularly
bombed by the Islamic government of Sudan.
These children have dug more than twenty foxholes by hand
around the schoolyard. They have prepared themselves with
some means of protection for when the bombers come. When
they hear the engines of the bombers, they run for the holes,
watching out for flying shrapnel.
Some succeed in getting to the foxholes safely, but some
do not. When the missionary team asked what could be done
for the children, the answer was simply, “Pray for their
protection.”
The Bible teaches that many believers lived a precarious
existence in order to maintain their faith in Christ. To these
children, suffering or even dying for their faith is an everyday
reality. To us, they are brave soldiers for Christ.

The children in Sudan are prepared to enter earthly
battle. More importantly, they are prepared to one day
enter heaven’s gates. They have secured protection
within the earth from fly-by raids from enemy camps.
Yet their faith in Christ has secured eternal protection
within the arms of God. Perhaps, like the Sudanese
children playing near an undiffused bomb, you have
learned by now that life often takes place a step away
from disaster. You may have taken steps to pad and
protect your life on earth, hoping for the best amidst
uncertain times. However, have you also followed their
example of being prepared for life in the hereafter?
Are you prepared for eternal life through a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ?

Forgetfulness. It is the number one enemy of prayerfulness. We are quick to offer our prayers of support. Unfortunately, our good intentions are rarely good enough to help us carry through on our commitments to pray for those in need. What can remind you to pray for those who are persecuted around the world? Perhaps a small sticker on the face of your watch will remind you. Each time you look at your watch throughout the day can be an opportunity for you to remember a people group who live under religious persecution. Whatever method you choose to be more mindful of the missed opportunities for prayer, follow through on it. Reading stories about extreme believers will not change anything. Praying for extreme believers can change everything—maybe even today. 

from VOM-Extreme Devotion