Friday, July 31, 2020

During this season, Muslims the world over celebrate Id al-Adha, the Feast of the Sacrifice (other names are used in different areas). This celebration commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son (Ishmael, according to Islam) in obedience to God’s command. But God provided a ram for Abraham to offer instead.

For the celebration, each family or group of families kills an animal, usually a sheep. Wherever Muslims are, whether in Mecca taking part in the hajj (pilgrimage) or anywhere else in the world, their religion requires them to slaughter an animal.

Prayer

Merciful and redeeming God, I ask you to open Muslims’ eyes during this season to see the Lamb you provided for the atonement of the sin of the world. May they open their hearts to Christ, who was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7), who died on the cross, and who rose again to set us free from sin and condemnation.

Help Muslims realize that Jesus agonized, suffered, and died for them so that they could have joy, peace, and life in him.

May they accept your provision to redeem them “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Let them hear his cry on the cross declaring, “It is finished.” Then they will see how pointless it is to try to gain God’s favor through the millions of sacrifices they slaughter during this season.

Compassionate Father, reveal to Muslims the Lamb of God who now sits upon the throne in heaven. Draw them by your love to join saints and angels in singing the heavenly chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12).

Promise

Where is the lamb for the burnt offering? . . . God himself will provide the lamb (Genesis 22:7-8, NIV). There is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, REB).

Friday, July 24, 2020

Many of us waste opportunities to witness to Muslim friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Sometimes we feel intimidated because we do not understand Muslims, or we are not sure how they will react to what we say to them. At other times we are just careless about witnessing to others. We need to repent of our indifference and ask the Lord to forgive us and empower us by the Holy Spirit to be his faithful witnesses.

Prayer

O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, we come to you. We repent of our inaction and lack of concern. We, your Church, have failed you. I confess that we have sinned against you. We have not obeyed your command to witness to the lost; we have not loved Muslims as we should have; we have not prayed for them without ceasing; we have not offered them the Gospel in all its power.

Forgive us, we pray. We are your servants, the people you freed at Calvary by your great strength and might. Your Word promises that if we confess our sins, you are faithful and just to forgive us. We thank you for that.

Change our hearts and attitudes. Give us courage and boldness, grant us wisdom, and fill us with the Holy Spirit. Help us persevere in prayer for Muslims and open our mouths and witness to them with compassion and love.

Surprise us, O God, by helping us this year to lead Muslims to the Kingdom and nurture them into maturity.

Promise

You answer us with righteous and awesome deeds, O God our Savior, the hope of people all over the earth and across the farthest seas (Psalm 65:5, SAB).

Friday, July 17, 2020

From San Francisco and New York to London and Paris, from Cairo and Jeddah to Tehran and Manila, enthusiastic Muslim taxi drivers are on the job! They earn a living by taking people where they want to go, and at the same time they try to demonstrate their Islamic faith and practices. For example, they display quranic verses in conspicuous spots in their taxis and occasionally play the chanting of the Quran on their radios.

Prayer

Almighty God our Father, I bring to you Muslim taxi drivers all over the world. They need you. They need to acknowledge Christ as their Lord and Savior. O God, grant many of them today forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light. Let them experience Christ’s love and grace.

Taxi drivers who believe in Jesus could be so useful in spreading the sweet-smelling perfume of Christ among the millions of people they transport every day! Father, make them into evangelists. May they become a powerful force in your Kingdom to inflict loss on Satan’s territory and bring many to the freedom of Christ.

In the glorious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Promise

[God’s works] are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever–holy and awesome is his name (Psalm 111:8-9).

Friday, July 10, 2020

The Bible states that a political ruler is God’s servant (Romans 13:3, 4). People say that the President of the United States occupies the most powerful political position in the world.

The Bible also teaches us that Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16) and asks us to pray for kings and rulers (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Yes, we have a very serious responsibility: We are to pray for leaders and for the one who occupies the office of president.

Prayer

Blessed be the name of God, the Master supreme over all rulers. I pray that you will bless the President of the United States and bring him into a close relationship with Christ the Savior and Lord of all. Grant him humility and meekness. Fill him with the Holy Spirit and give him wisdom and understanding.

Lord Jesus, let him always remember that you are the Judge before whom he will stand on the last day to give account of the authority, blessings and talents you have given him. Fill him with the love and goodness that come only from you. May he always feed on your Word and make decisions based on biblical values.

Help him to forgive and love his enemies.

May he always realize that you care for him and love him, and that you are willing to hold his hand to lead him every step of the way.

Bless his family, his cabinet, his staff and all who help him.

I pray for those who are for him and those who are against him. Bless them all with the knowledge of Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Promise

[God] will make your goodness shine as bright as the day, and your right cause as clear as noontime (Psalm 37:6, SAB).

Of the Muslim World

Friday, July 3, 2020

There are scores of cities in the world with populations of multiple millions. Many of those cities are in Islamic territories. People stream into cities from villages and rural areas to find jobs, better living conditions and a modern lifestyle. Large urban areas around the world increase by one person every second.

Some of those cities include Alexandria, Algiers, Amman, Ankara, Baghdad, Baku, Cairo, Casablanca, Chittagong, Dacca, Dakar, Islamabad, Istanbul, Izmir, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kabul, Karachi, Khartoum, Lahore, Meshhad, Riyadh, Tashkent, Tehran, Tripoli, and Tunis.

Often, big cities evoke images of filth and poverty, crowded streets and heavy traffic, mobs and crime, drugs and alcohol, gangs and fear, hurts and despair.

Prayer

Compassionate Father and Sustainer, I intercede on behalf of Muslim cities, just as Abraham interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah. I ask you to save the “Sodoms and Gomorrahs” of the Muslim world today from their present misery and eternal doom.

In prayer, I come against the evil forces that spread hatred, corruption, wickedness, crime, and all kinds of sin in these urban areas. In the name of Jesus, I stand against Satan who controls these places. I take authority over him and claim his defeat in the cities of Islam. May your Word be declared with courage and clarity. May people find comfort and hope in you. May they repent by the thousands and millions and accept Christ as Savior and Lord.

God, help us to hear the cries of city dwellers and take the Good News of Jesus to them. Send trained and effective workers to proclaim hope and joy in Christ. Give us courage and compassion to go to those in the slums and squatter camps and bring them peace and joy in Christ.

Promise

If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land… and will give it to us (Numbers 14:8).