Ramadan

Today begins the Islamic lunar month of Ramadan.  For Muslims the world over, this is a month that they spend fasting from sun-up to sun-down and praying for revelations from God.  The lunar month ends with a big celebration called Eid in which they have a big feast thank God for revealing the Koran to Muhammad.  Each year, the dates of Ramadan change as the month begins and ends with the phases of the moon, but it seems as if this year's Eid will happen August 28th or 29th.

While I don't believe Mohammad was a prophet of the One True God, I do admire the dedication so many Muslims have to fast from food and water during one of the hottest months of the year.  I wonder what God might reveal to us Christians if we would be faithful enough to trust Him to meet our nutritional needs during the day for a week or even a month.  What might He be able to share with us about our individual hearts and lives if we were to spend meal time praying instead of eating?

Between the military, oil companies, A&M's campus in Doha, and the mission field, I have a handful of friends who live in predominately Muslim areas of the globe.  Many of my friends will often send me an email to tell me they have been amazed at how God is using dreams and visions to reveal the truth of Christ to the Muslims in their respective nations.  Evangelism is strictly forbidden by law in many of these countries, but only God can control one's dreams!  While Americans can often meet and have church, the locals cannot.  Yet, God speaks His truth through the patient, quiet example of His followers, dreams, and middle-of-the-day visions in some extraordinary ways.  Their Muslim friends then come to them privately to ask questions and look at their Bibles.  How amazing is our God?!  Trust Him to plant seeds and then be willing to be used!

I don't believe in too much prayer.  For the next month, Isaac and I will be praying daily for the Muslims celebrating Ramadan.  We invite you to join us (and some of our friends who will be doing the same) in prayer for those seeking Truth this month.  Feel free to use the prayer guide I've made to help you, or create your own.

Repeat each week of Ramadan:
Sundays: Pray that God reveals Himself in grace and truth this month to those who are seeking to know Him. 

Mondays: Pray for God to sustain the breadwinners of the families who are out working in the heat without food or water.  Pray that these men and women will learn that Christ is the bread of life (John 6:25-59) and living waters (John 7:37-39). 

Tuesdays: Pray for the children who are old enough to observe fasting as they begin a new school year during the month of Ramadan.  Pray that God will give them energy and focus on their schoolwork.  Ask God to use their Christian friends to love on them in special ways this month.

Wednesdays: Ask the Lord to give visions of Christ and dreams of Truth to Muslims, especially to those who do not have access to a Bible.

Thursdays: Pray for God to bring access to the Gospel in their native languages directly to those who begin questioning their Muslim faith through foreign friends, the internet, and the satellite TV stations who are dedicating themselves to sharing the Gospel in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Fridays: Pray that Muslims will have peace in their homes, where ever they live, as they seek to take care of their families.

Saturday: Pray for boldness for those who are seeking to uncover the Truth of Christ.  Pray that their families will embrace what they have learned instead of shunning them.  Pray for Believers to come alongside of them and disciple them.