Displaying items by tag: prayer for Muslims

Beginning at sundown on 22nd March over a billion Muslims around the world will abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex from dawn to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and one of the highest forms of Islamic worship. Abstinence from earthly pleasures and curbing evil intentions and desires is their act of obedience and submission to God and an atonement for sins, errors, and mistakes. Fasting is an act of faith and worship to  increase their spiritual piety. Fasting together as a worldwide community (Ummah) affirms the brotherhood and equality of man before God. Throughout the day many go out of their way to help the needy, both financially and emotionally. Believing that a reward earned during this month is multiplied 70 times and more. For this reason, Ramadan is also known as the month of charity and generosity.

Mecca: the holiest city in Islam, reputedly the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad and the destination for Muslims on the sacred hajj pilgrimage. This year, the hajj is from 17 to 22 July. Although the pilgrimage has Covid limitations, Mecca is still preparing for 60,000 pilgrims. The city of Mecca has 1.5 million residents. You have to be a Muslim to get in the city limits. Entering Mecca as a non-Muslim could result in fines, deportation, or worse. How could anyone there hear the Good News that they have a Saviour who loves them? How could the Gospel possibly reach such a closed city? The Holy Spirit and prayer are not limited by borders or bans.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern and western India are some of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian. Over 325 million Muslims call this region home. If anyone chooses to follow Christ, they face intense opposition, even death. However no nation is closed to prayer. No people are outside his reach. And absolutely nothing is impossible with him. Muslims have spent four weeks fasting, praying and doing good deeds to be closer to God. They are looking for assured salvation. Pray for the Holy Spirit to meet their needs and for Jesus to permeate every unreached corner of the nations, including large industrial cities and rural tribal areas (especially in western south Asia). Pray for grace and love to extinguish all unbelief in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pray for the Christians living in Muslim communities to have the courage to continue to follow Christ regardless of intense persecution and to share God’s grace and love.

Jesus said, ‘The first of all the commandments is, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.”’ (Mark 12:29) During Ramadan, millions of Christians around the world and churches and ministries from many denominations participated in the largest ongoing prayer focus for the Muslim world - that Muslims would understand and believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Ramadan will finish on 23 May, but we can continue to pray that what God has begun in the lives of our Muslim neighbours will continue. May the Holy Spirit linger in their lives. May we continue to send faithful Christian prayers to heaven on behalf of our ‘not yet saved’ brothers and sisters. May we be open to personal and human contact and manifest God’s love through kindness and respect in relationships. Let us ask God to help us to share our faith while explaining terms such as sin, prayer, God, Son of God and faith.

Muslims around the world begin the holy month of Ramadan on Monday 6 May. Over the following thirty days, they will fast each day as they intentionally seek Allah, presenting incredible opportunities for them to encounter Jesus instead! We can ask God to lead us in prayer for Muslims around the world to come into a living faith in Jesus Christ. There are many resources available to help us pray: one is the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. By joining this movement, you will be joining the Holy Spirit’s work in drawing Muslims to Christ. An illustrated prayer guide booklet has daily readings that focus on various topics, people groups and geographical areas of the Islamic world; each day’s subject focus is followed by prayer points. It also features informative background articles and resources for involvement.