Friday, November 1, 2019

The Bible tells us clearly that the greatest blessing God plans for people is to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, believe in him and follow him. The presence of mosques in communities around the world is a reality today. A mosque is a Muslim place of worship. Are we open to ask the Lord to pour out his ultimate blessing on the individuals who worship in those mosques?

That means we ask God to bring people who pray in mosques to put their faith in Jesus Christ: yes, those who do the call to prayer, who lead the prayers, who preach, who serve as janitors and guards, and all who go there to pray. Is that possible? For Almighty God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Prayer

O Lord, our God, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have incredible things in store for us—great things we have never dreamed of. I believe that you, Lord, will help some of us to preach in mosques in Muslim capitals: in Mecca (Saudi Arabia), in Cairo (Egypt), in Najaf (Iraq), in Kum (Iran), in Fes (Morocco), in Islamabad (Pakistan), and on and on.

Though you do not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), we pray that you will manifest your divine power and majesty to the children of Ishmael in such buildings. May tens of thousands of mosques become solemn places for the worship of Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords. May all who worship there sense your presence among them and realize that their mosque has become truly the house of God. May they say, “Surely, the Lord is in this place…. Surely, this is the house of God” (Genesis 28:16-17).

I pray because I believe you are able to cause rivers to flow in “barren lands, and springs in valleys.” You can turn the “desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs” (Isaiah 41:18). I thank you for answering my prayers. Amen.

Promise

Go in peace, and the God of Israel will give what you have asked of him (1 Samuel 1:17, SAB).

Friday, October 25, 2019

She was a widow. We do not know her name. Her husband, who was a prophet, had died and left her with a debt she had to pay. The creditor demanded that she give him her two sons as slaves since she couldn’t pay the debt. She panicked at the thought of losing her two sons and cried out to the prophet Elisha for help. He told her to borrow a lot of pots and pans from her neighbors, and start pouring the little oil she had into those pots.

She acted out of a strong faith and obeyed Elisha’s advice. She borrowed all the pots she could find, went into her house with her sons, and shut the door behind herself and her children. She then began to pour out the oil she had into the pots, but the flow of oil never stopped until she ran out of containers! She was able to sell the oil and pay off the debt. I call her the “Oil Seller.” When she borrowed pots from her neighbors, she was in fact announcing her faith publicly! But as she filled the pots with oil, she was receiving the blessing privately. (Read the story in 2 Kings 4:1-7.)

We need women like her in the Muslim world—women of faith, who hear from God and do his will.

Prayer

Almighty God in heaven, thank you for this courageous woman. She cried out, she stated her case, she obeyed, she acted, she received and she was delivered from the grip of the debtor. How merciful and compassionate you are, Lord! I ask you to give your Church women who have come out of Islam and put their faith in Jesus—women of faith and action, just like the “Oil Seller.”

Help them overcome fear, intimidation and uncertainty through faith. May they overcome the world because they believe that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:5). Empower them to become examples and models for their children, families and others “in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

I pray for other prayer warriors. It is possible that you are about to do a miracle in their lives. Help all of us to bring you our empty pots. May your unending flow of oil fill us. For the sake of Jesus, my Lord, amen.

Promise

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).

Do You Know You Are Very Dear to God?

Friday, October 18, 2019

In ancient times, a signet ring was a treasured possession and had an important function. People used it to place their personal signature or seal on documents. It was worn on a finger (Jeremiah 22:24) or an arm (Song of Solomon 8:6) or suspended on a chain around the neck.^[1]

When Pharaoh promoted Joseph and put him in charge of the entire country of Egypt, he confirmed that by removing his signet ring from his hand and placing it on Joseph’s finger (Genesis 41:42). The king of Persia showed his great esteem for Haman by doing the same thing with his signet ring (Esther 3:10). God is able to help many Muslims realize that, through faith in Christ, they are very precious and dear to the Lord, like a signet ring.

Prayer

Blessed God, our Maker and Redeemer, I pray that you will draw to the Kingdom of your Son multitudes of Muslims. May they find their place among your chosen people. We want to see countless Muslims serve Christ the Lord, worship the risen Savior, and bring others to the cross. Grant them the experience of the bride when she said to her groom, “Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm” (Song of Solomon 8:6, NLT).

May they realize by your Spirit that they are precious in your sight, dear to your heart (Isaiah 43:4), and at the center of your plans (Jeremiah 29:11).

May they also understand their serious responsibility to be your ambassadors in the world, to witness about your mercy and grace.

You alone are the Almighty God, Sovereign, Potentate. To you be glory for ever and ever, amen.

Promise

On that day, I will take you and I will make you like a signet ring for me, for I have chosen you (Haggai 2:23, SAB).

Footnotes

^[1]My grandfather did not know how to read and write. He did not like the idea of wearing a ring. He had a seal in his big wallet to stamp documents in his name.

And Not Be Silent

Friday, October 11, 2019

The enemy tries to trick us: he wants us to feel embarrassed and ashamed to witness to people about what Jesus has done in our lives. Our timid personality may be a hindrance, or we may not know what to say. Such shyness can be greater when we are with Muslims, and we can feel especially uneasy if the laws of the land prohibit witnessing.

We may feel guilty about failing to witness about Christ, and yet choose to do nothing about it. But there are other options. The Lord God, by his grace, is able to fill us with courage, boldness, wisdom and love. People around us are hurting and need help. What we have in Jesus Christ is of eternal weight and consequence for them.

Prayer

Most High God, my Father in heaven, I thank you for trusting me and empowering me to witness to Muslims. Give me an opportunity this week to speak out and tell a Muslim about Jesus. Almighty God, let me see beyond my restrictive personal concerns, whether joy or sadness, success or failure. Anoint me with the Holy Spirit to speak words that minister to people and comfort them.

Move my heart to have compassion on Muslims. Help me to love and respect them and sympathize with their dilemmas and concerns. Enable me to lead a Muslim to Jesus this week.

Help me see the world outside of myself, to be part of what your mighty hand is doing among nations, tribes and peoples of every tongue. Make me a blessing to others. May they see in me Jesus Christ, the loving, eternal Savior.

In his precious name I pray. Amen.

Promise

Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me (Acts 18:9-10, NLT).

Friday, October 4, 2019

 

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).