This week we prayed especially for ailing members of our congregation. It was a joy to ask for God’s blessings to poured out in healing! But all sickness reminds of the deep disease which afflicts all humanity—sin. This disease operates on the spiritual level where only a spiritual cure can be found in God’s remedy of Jesus. We should always be praying for those lost in sin to know God’s healing mercy in Christ.
Beginning next Monday (April 12), our Muslim neighbors will join other Muslims around the world in a month-long time of fasting called Ramadan. Known as the time of blessing, Ramadan is time of intense spiritual activity. The Islamic Network Group explains more:
Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. During Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of learning self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time re-reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers.
There are about 1.8 billion people, or about 24% of the world’s population that will be engaged in Ramadan festivities. Some of those people will only be adhering to traditions or going through the motions to look good to their neighbors. But others will be earnestly seeking God. What better time to pray to the one true and living God to reveal himself to these people?
Why Pray?
And what should motivate us to pray? I can think of two very simple reasons. First, God wants to save all kinds of people from all over the world. This is evident from Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19–20) and Paul’s command to pray for the salvation of those in authority because God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:1–5). All people means we can pray for more than just those in authority.
The second reason we should pray for the salvation of Muslims is love. Jesus commanded that we love our neighbors (Mark 12:31). Some extreme Muslims would consider us to be their enemies. Jesus told us to love such people as well and pray for them (Matt 5:43–45). What is more loving than to seek to introduce someone to Jesus that they might know the forgiveness and life he offers?
Whether it’s a few times over the next four weeks or something more systematic, I hope you will join me in asking God to make himself known to Muslims during Ramadan.
Resources for Prayer
Here are some more resources to help you in engage in praying for Muslims over the next month.
Seven Ways to Pray for Muslims During Ramadan by Garret Kell. This is a one-page guide of prayer points that can be repeated each of the four weeks of Ramadan.
30 Days of Prayer During Ramadan by Open Doors. This free download gives you a different prayer emphasis for each of Ramadan.
Ramadan Revealed by Call of Love Ministries. A well-produced series of short videos (about a minute each), which unpacks the Islamic celebration. With one video for each day, this is a great way to launch you into a short time of prayer for Muslims. The first video is below.
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