Lonely Believers

Friday, June 17, 2016

Abdel-Qader was a leader in a mosque in North Africa. His religious duties included leading Muslims in prayer and preaching to them on Fridays. When Jesus revealed himself to Abdel-Qader, he became a secret believer in Christ. Now he reads the Bible diligently and memorizes large parts of it!

How can he be baptized in water, partake of the Lord’s Supper and have fellowship with other believers? He does not know of any other believers in his own town.

Abdel-Qader’s story is repeated over and over in Muslim countries. Many Muslims who come to Christ feel very lonely because there are no churches or meetings they can attend.

This week we will pray for these precious, isolated believers.

Prayer

Almighty God in heaven, you hear our prayers. Blessed are those who put their faith in you and follow Jesus, your Son, no matter how difficult it proves to be. O God, you are our only true shelter and refuge, rock and fortress. We can indeed depend on you. All of us must come to you.

We bring to you those who have left Islam and now find themselves alone in communities that are very hostile to them. Listen to our cry, O Savior divine. Look upon them, Lord God, and be gracious to them, for they are lonely (Psalm 25:16).

Nothing is impossible for you. By your Holy Spirit, you can bring many people in those areas to put their faith in Christ so that they become true brothers and sisters, real family to other believers. May they realize that they are part of an incredible, mighty army: the Church, the body of Christ, the temple of the Holy Spirit, the house of God all over the world.

Encourage them and fill them with your presence. Show them your face and smile upon them.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray, amen.

Promise

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy (Psalm 68:5-6, NLT).