Friday, June 25, 2021

Hannah had been married for some time, but she was unable to have children. She was barren. Her husband’s other wife ridiculed and belittled her. Though her husband loved her, Hannah felt unfulfilled, troubled and miserable (1 Samuel 1:1-8).^[1]

She believed in the Lord, in his mercy and in the power of prayer. So she took her problem to the throne of God and poured out her heart to him (1:9-11).

When God answered her and gave her a son, she was grateful and exalted the Lord with a beautiful prayer of praise. Her worship reveals great depth in her relationship with God and in her understanding of his ways and his dealings with humans (2:1-10).

She kept her word and fulfilled her promise to the Lord. She gave her only son to serve at God’s house. Since that place was far away, she saw her son only once a year (1:24-28). That was a great sacrifice on her part. But God repaid her five times (2:21). Yes, she gave birth to five more children!

Prayer

Lord, may the women who come to Christ from Islam be like Hannah: prepared to invoke your name when persecuted by people and upset by circumstances. Help them to be ready to show great faith in Jesus and in the power of prayer in his mighty name.

Raise up for yourself, Almighty God, women in Muslim nations who acknowledge you as the source of every blessing and who dedicate their children to the service of Christ the King. May they withhold nothing from you, not even their most precious possessions. Give many of them children like Samuel: boys and girls who are sensitive to your voice when you speak, who listen and hear, who obey and walk in your ways, and who turn the hearts of people toward you, O God.

In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Promise

When you started to pray, God answered you, and I came to tell you because he loves you (Daniel 9:23, Sharif Bible).

Footnotes

^[1] All the references in this section are from First Samuel.

Friday, June 18, 2021

As the new year starts, we turn our attention to spending time in the secret place of the Most High. When we are still and quiet in God’s presence, he speaks to us, guides us, and fills us with his peace and joy. The noise that surrounds us often hinders our hearing from God. We need to put aside that turmoil and noise—television, radio, music, chatter, or simple busyness—to listen to him.

Elijah the prophet was able to hear the Almighty speak to him, not in the powerful windstorm, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but only in God’s gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-12).

Quietness, the attitude of a learner, shows that we know we are indeed needy and that we are ready to hear and follow instructions.

Prayer

Most Holy God, I come into your presence because of what your Son, my Lord, did for me on the cross. He opened the way for a sinner such as I to enter into the secret chambers of Almighty God. Thank you. Teach me to sit still and hear your comforting, assuring, and guiding voice. Be the focus of my attention and the center of my hopes and ambitions.

As Mary understood when she sat at Jesus’ feet, help me realize that only one thing is necessary. And may I choose that one thing, knowing it is best and shall not be taken away from me (Luke 10:42).

In the midst of my daily chores and responsibilities, give me grace to be in continual communication with you, my Master and my King. Help me to praise and adore you, to speak life and blessing to those whom I encounter, and to witness about your glory and love.

Father, I ask all this because of the merits of your righteous, holy Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Promise

Wait quietly for the LORD, be patient till he comes; do not envy those who gain their ends or be vexed at their success (Psalm 37:7, REB).

Friday, June 11, 2021

Shame is what a person feels when they are discovered doing something bad. When someone makes a mistake and is exposed, they become ashamed. So, shame is the lack of a covering for unacceptable behavior and actions.

For Muslims, shame is more serious and more demeaning than sin. The fact of being discovered is more punishable than what the guilty person actually did! Example: For people to notice that you lack honesty and integrity is more serious than your actual dishonesty!

In Islam, shame is also a dynamic way to force members of society to fall in line with the group’s behavioral norms and codes. Individuals are coerced into complying with what the group dictates.

Prayer

Lord God, I am reminded of how Adam and Eve were ashamed when they realized they were naked (Genesis 3:7). But you saw that which was more serious than their nudity—their disobedience. True, you provided them something to cover themselves with, but you also promised redemption from sin (Genesis 3:15).

I pray for Muslims to realize the seriousness of sin. Help them see that our hearts are sinful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9).

Reveal to them the wonderful gift of pardon and forgiveness in Christ, the only Lord and Savior. May they run to you repenting and believing. May they take pride in the cross and live a victorious life for Jesus.

I pray that you will make them completely holy and keep their entire spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Amen.

Promise

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces (Psalm 34:5, NLT).

Friday, June 4, 2021

Samuel, a tribal prince in Liberia in the late 1800s, was captured by an enemy tribe when he was about 14 and held for ransom. His tribe could not pay the required ransom, so his captors tied him to a tree, beat him, and tortured him.

One night he saw a bright flash of light and heard a voice tell him, “Run, Kaboo, run!” The ropes that tied him to the tree fell off, and, though weak from hunger and torture, he started running. His captors were terrified by the light and hid. Samuel followed the light to the jungle, where for weeks he walked at night and slept during the day. Finally, he found a coffee plantation where he got a job. A young man there befriended him and took him to a Christian mission meeting. The white missionary and her team welcomed him. He had never heard of Christ, the Bible or Christianity, but gladly learned about Jesus and became a Christian. The missionary taught him all she knew about the Holy Spirit, but he wanted more and asked her who had taught her those things. She answered, “Brother Stephen Merritt” who lived in New York, a faraway land, beyond the ocean.

Samuel then boarded a cargo ship to New York, although he had no money and no address for Brother Merritt. During the five months of hard work and constant prayer on board, he won the captain and many sailors to Christ. When he debarked in New York, he asked the first man he met if he knew Stephen Merritt. In that city of two million people, the man knew Merritt and took Samuel to his workplace. Samuel would go on to inspire many to give their lives to Jesus.

Prayer

Lord God, I feel like Muslims are tied to a tree and are being tortured by the enemy of their soul. Only you, Lord God Almighty, can set them free. Break their fetters by the power of Christ. Shine your light onto the path of Jesus and help them to run.

Give Muslims the same hunger for the Holy Spirit that Samuel had. Help them to have simple, genuine faith in you to guide and lead them, and to hold them by the hand in their life journey.

For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Promise

The LORD who appeared in the burning bush wants to give you the best the land can produce, and it will be a princely crown on Joseph’s head (Deuteronomy 33:16, CEV).