Friday, February 23, 2018

Lebanon is the most democratic and open-minded society in all the Arab world. It also has the largest percentage of Christians (most of whom are Catholic or Orthodox) of all the countries in the Middle East.

Although the country has faced deep sectarian divisions and cultural tensions for generations, there is still a greater level of religious freedom in Lebanon than in any other Arab country. Now, many of its citizens, wearied by religious and cultural strife, are hungry for God and open to the Spirit in new ways.

Lebanon’s freedom of religion offers the Church great opportunities to practice its faith openly and share the Gospel boldly with others. The Middle East needs Lebanon’s open-mindedness and freedom.

Prayer

Father of love and mercy, we thank you for your healing power and your tender compassion. You are able to raise the dead, heal the sick, and restore hope to despairing hearts. We pray for Lebanon today. We lift our voices to intercede for her people–Christians, Muslims, and Druze. All have suffered greatly because of religious and political divisions and need healing that only you can bring.

Inspire your Church in Lebanon to make good use of the liberty it enjoys. Raise up pastors and leaders who love you and have your heart for Muslim peoples. Grant Lebanese believers great boldness to share the Good News of the Gospel of Christ with others (Acts 4:29). Preserve, O Lord, the freedoms they have to worship as they choose and speak openly of their faith. We pray for radio and television programs that share the truth of your Word. We pray for Christian businesses and companies in Lebanon. Empower them to risk all for you as they seek to bring many of their Muslim friends and neighbors to commit their lives to Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. For your glory and the Kingdom’s sake, amen.

Promise

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38, NIV).

Footnotes

^[1] Written by Tom Belt.

Friday, February 16, 2018

 

The Bible exhorts us to pray for all those in authority (I Timothy 2:1-2). When we pray, God changes hearts. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases” (Proverbs 21:1, NIV).

When the king of Nineveh heard Jonah’s call to repentance, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, put on sackcloth and sat down in the dust as an expression of his contrition. He issued an order to his people to repent and believe in God (Jonah 3:6-10). Oh, that many Muslim rulers would do that today!

Like all other humans, rulers need emotional and physical healing; they cherish being loved and encouraged; they need guidance and direction; and above all, they need Christ.

Prayer

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father and eternal King, you alone are the Most High, Sovereign over the kingdoms of men (Daniel 4:32). You alone hold the universe in your hand and control every being in it.

I pray for the kings, presidents, and rulers in the Muslim world. Lord Jesus, by the power of your blood, forgive their sin and bring them to faith in you. May they surrender their hearts and accept you as the Absolute King over their lives.

Let them know that you are the Judge before whom they will stand on the last day to give an account of the authority you have entrusted to them. May they know the peace that comes through believing in your Word. Fill them with your Holy Spirit. Keep and protect them—spirit, soul and body. May the enemy of their souls have no power or authority over them.

I pray for those who are sick or in pain, those who need physical or emotional healing. May they call upon your name, Lord Jesus, put their faith in you, and receive forgiveness of sin and divine healing by your power. May they feed upon the eternal Word of God. Amen.

Promise

You kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth…. Submit to God’s royal son…. what joy for all who find protection in him! (Psalm 2:10, 12, NIV, NLT).

  

Friday, February 9, 2018

For the past two decades, Muslim terrorists have been launching major attacks against the United States and Europe. Examples include: New York, London, Madrid, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, and Manchester. Western governments, scrambling to ward off further attacks, attempt to distance Muslims from terrorism. They have described Islam as a peaceful religion, supported its inclusion in church ecumenical relations, and described it as one of the three Abrahamic religions!

Granted, not all Muslims are terrorists, not even most of them. But terrorism has been ingrained in the Islamic faith since its inception. Instead of allowing this to trigger negative feelings toward Muslims, we should see them as Jesus sees them: sinners in need of his salvation. Only God’s love manifested at Calvary can transform terrorists into saints.

 

Prayer

Lord Jesus, you are meek and humble and full of love and compassion. You refused to allow your disciples to use any kind of violence (Matthew 26:51-54; Luke 9:51-56).

Almighty God, I ask you to change Islam’s violence into Christ-centered acts of mercy and sacrificial love. Please draw Muslims to yourself, Redeemer and Savior of all mankind. Cover them with the atoning power of your cross. Fill their minds with your kindness and their beings with your gentleness. Let your peace rule in their hearts. May the Word of Christ dwell richly in them (Colossians 3:15-16). In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

Promise

May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord’s face shine upon you and give you mercy. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24, 26, SAB).

 

Friday, February 2, 2018

Praying in the name of Jesus is not a formula for a charm or an incantation to help us in a magical way. In the legal world, when someone assigns you power of attorney, you have the authority to act on behalf of that person and in his place. You can sell and buy real estate, possessions, or whatever the document states.

Praying in the name of Jesus means:

• I make my request to God for the sake of Jesus. I deserve nothing. I have no rights at the throne of God, so I am asking on the merits of Christ. He is my Maker and Redeemer. God answers, in honor of Christ (John 14:13-14; 15:16; 16:23-24; Acts 16:18; 1 Corinthians 1:2).
• I approach God in the authority of Jesus, my Lord and Savior (Acts 3:6; 16:18; 1 Corinthians 1:2).
• I ask in line with his will (1 John 5:14).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, our Master and Savior, we bless you. Your name expresses your divine nature and glory, your sacrificial love, your compassionate attitude toward us, and your saving power. Thank you.

I pray for Muslim people all over the world. Open their spiritual eyes to acknowledge the greatest name, the name that is above all others. Open their hearts to accept you and surrender their lives to you. Set them free from old beliefs, superstitious practices, and slavery to a system that has, for centuries, abused them. Help them realize that salvation is found in no one other than you (Acts 4:12).

I pray for the churches among Muslims to be full of the Holy Spirit and strongly founded on the Word of God. Give them a vision to bring the nations to Jesus Christ.

You are worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise (Revelation 5:12). Amen.

Promise

The smell of your perfume is sweet, your name is like fragrant perfume…. In his name, the nations will put their hope (Song of Solomon 1:3; Matthew 12:21, SAB).