You may be aware that this year, the beginning of Lent coincided with the first day of the Islamic observance of Ramadan. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. Now, we’re much of the way through Lent, and Ramadan just came to an end last week. Christians and Muslims have been fasting and praying at the same time. We may have very different—or even conflicting—views of the God we are praying to, but there is a shared desire for the closeness to God and renewal of faith that these observances invite us into.
So what is God doing in the midst of this unusual intersection of Lent and Ramadan? I believe there is an invitation here for us to focus our prayers on the Muslim world.
But let’s begin our prayers from a place of resting in God’s presence. So often we see the needs, the difficulties, or the urgency, and we jump right in to prayer. Even though He loves to hear us pour out our hearts, let’s not forget how important it is to slow down and focus on the God who is far above the rulers of nations and mightier than all the situations that are beyond our control—things that might even cause us to feel frantic, helpless, or impotent. Instead, we can slow down, quiet our hearts in God’s presence, experience His love, and find our rest in His authority.
Another facet of praying from God’s presence comes from Paul’s words to the Ephesians, that Christ is seated at the Father’s right hand in heavenly places, “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.” Amazingly, Paul goes on to say that we are seated together with Him in those heavenly places! (Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6) How might our prayers change if we pause to see ourselves sitting close to Jesus, right there at Father’s right hand, looking down on everything from a heavenly perspective?
So let’s start from that place of God’s presence, love, and perspective, and let’s pray:
- That the days of Ramadan that Muslims have spent in fasting and devotion will ignite a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied by Jesus.
- That many Muslims will have dreams and visions of Jesus.
- That in the places where minds have been darkened, God will send out His light and His truth. (Psalm 43:3)
- For Muslim-born believers to continue to hold on to Christ, no matter what difficulties they are facing.
- For the safety of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are living cross-culturally in Muslim areas and seeking to spread the love of Jesus to their neighbors—especially those workers who are in danger because of war.
- For peace—peace among nations and peace in the hearts of those who are truly seeking God.
- For leaders to have heavenly wisdom and direction, and for peacemakers to help bring resolution to the conflicts in these areas.
- For those who have been displaced from their homes, that they would find their true home in Jesus.
- For those who have lost family members, friends, and loved ones in these conflicts, that they would know the comfort of Christ.
- That the spirits of darkness that are at work in the Muslim world would bow to the authority of Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- Let’s lift Jesus to His rightful place, ruler of all, exalted above everything, rejoicing that He is at work in the Muslim world, and that He allows us to partner in prayer with the things He is doing there.
~ Kathryn Kircher, writer and photographer
Frontiers, an organization focused on bringing the Good News to the least-reached Muslim peoples, has some excellent prayer resources: https://frontiersusa.org/pray/
