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Guest post by Sherry Schumann, Prayer director for Christian Grandparenting Network9651041893?profile=original

If you wander through a Hallmark store during the final weeks of August, you’ll notice cards celebrating National Grandparents Day. You won’t find any cards for Grandparents Day of Prayer, even though its date coincides with National Grandparents Day. Grandparents Day of Prayer isn’t a day for grandparents to receive flowers, candy, or cards. It’s a day for grandparents to pray corporately for their grandchildren.

 

Every year, National Grandparents Day and Grandparents Day of Prayer occur on the second Sunday of September. This year, it falls on September 8th. If September 8 does not fit into your schedule for an event for grandparents plan your event at another time in September. It’s an excellent time to introduce a grandparents prayer group to your congregation.

 

Like it or not, we are in a spiritual battle for the hearts, souls and minds of our children and grandchildren. The enemy is using media, technology, education, social influences, and political pressures to launch an aggressive attack on the family unit. If we are in a spiritual battle, we need a spiritual weapon. Prayer is the greatest weapon in our arsenal.

 

Grandparents Day of Prayer can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Your options are limitless. Some churches host a prayer breakfast before the Sunday morning service, while others host afternoon teas or evening desserts in someone’s home.

 

Food isn’t necessary. Last year, our church celebrated Grandparents Day of Prayer by recognizing the grandparents in the congregation and setting aside time during the service for grandparents to pray for their grandchildren. It’s essential, though, that grandparent realize the importance of praying for their grandchildren.

 

Grandparents Day of Prayer also offers a wonderful opportunity to launch a G@P (Grandparents @ Prayer) group at church or in your community. A G@P group consists of two or more dedicated grandparents who gather to pray regularly for their grandchildren. A G@P meeting normally lasts 1 to 1-½ hours, and the format varies among the different groups.

 

Will you unite in prayer on September 8, 2018,

with grandparents around the world?

Will you consider launching a Grandparents Day of Prayer event at your church?

Will you consider starting a G@P group in your area?

 

For more information about Grandparents Day of Prayer, please visit https://christiangrandparenting.net/grandparents-day-of-prayer/.

For more information about G@P, please visit https://christiangrandparenting.net/grandparents-at-prayer/.

 

Deborah Haddix and  Lillian Penner, Coordinators for Grandparents Day of Prayer

lpenner@christiangrandparenting.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PTAP: Movement of repentace.

 
Ask that the Father would stir up repentant hearts among those in the Arabian Peninsula.  Pray that He would give them eyes to see their sin, a true sorrow about it, and hearts that are humble before Him.  Pray that they would turn to Him in repentance.
Pray that those in the Arabian Peninsula would know that despite their shortfalls, repentant hearts can lead to eternal security.  Pray that they would come to know the Gospel and claim Jesus as their Savior, their acceptance, and their freedom.
Pray for opportunities for believers to have conversation with nationals in the Arabian Gulf about the difference between worldly sorrow and Godly sorrow.  Ask for opportunities to discuss what repentance means, what it produces, why it is important, what it doesn't mean, and how Jesus plays a role in it.
Pray on behalf of the nations of the Arabian Peninsula.  As a believer, stand in the gap for this nation who does not know the one true God and repent of its twisted ways.  Repent for the sins of this nation and intercede on their behalf asking God to do a mighty work in this land and in this people.  Pray for His Kingdom to come in the Arabian Peninsula,
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PTAP: Night of Power-Ramadan

The "Night of Power" (May 19, 2020) is the most holy day in Islam. Considered the time when Mohammed received the words for the Koran, this is a catalytic spiritual event for the Islamic nations.  

On this night, many believe that their prayers are heard and also await revelations through dreams and visions. So, many stay up all night praying. 
Please join us in praying for:
  • the hearts of Muslims throughout the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic world to be open to receive the Truth
  • Jesus to visit many in dreams and visions on this night 
  • those who are struggling because mosques are closed, including the great mosque of Mecca (masjid al-haram) -- pray that they may encounter the love, comfort, and peace of Jesus Christ at this difficult time
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 
 
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 
Visit our website and find us online at:
http://pray-ap.info

PTAP's Vision
"To see the global church praying for the Arabian Peninsula so that the gospel and churches will be planted for every indigenous people in the Arabian Peninsula"
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The "Night of Power" (May 19, 2020) is the most holy day in Islam. Considered the time when Mohammed received the words for the Koran, this is a catalytic spiritual event for the Islamic nations.  

On this night, many believe that their prayers are heard and also await revelations through dreams and visions. So, many stay up all night praying. 

Please join us in praying for:
  • the hearts of Muslims throughout the Arabian Peninsula and the Islamic world to be open to receive the Truth
  • Jesus to visit many in dreams and visions on this night 
  • those who are struggling because mosques are closed, including the great mosque of Mecca (masjid al-haram) -- pray that they may encounter the love, comfort, and peace of Jesus Christ at this difficult time
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 
 
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 
Visit our website and find us online at:
http://pray-ap.info

PTAP's Vision
"To see the global church praying for the Arabian Peninsula so that the gospel and churches will be planted for every indigenous people in the Arabian Peninsula"
Read more…

Becoming a House of Prayer, pt. 2

If anyone prayed for our first prayer service on Sunday, Thank You!  God met us and gave us a great time of community prayer.

About 15 people participated, including several leaders.  We provided some instructions at the beginning and then we went into our prayer time.  We had selected 6 topics beforehand, and had identified a facilitator for each topic.  We took each topic in turn, with the facilitator sharing for 3-5 minutes on a couple of things they were thankful for in their area and then a couple of key prayer requests as we enter 2020.  We broke up into three small groups to pray for the topic, then went on to the next topic.  Sticking to one topic at a time (rather than having all the prayer requests presented at the beginning) helped the group to agree together in prayer.  And alternating between prayer times and sharing times kept the group focused and engaged (where a prolonged time of sharing followed by a prolonged, skipping-around prayer time tends to be disengaging).

Several people commented afterward that they were blessed by the prayer time, and each group had a lot of participation.  Breaking into groups ensured that everyone got a chance to pray.  We did find that a group size of about 4 was the most effective; we had one group of 6 people, and feedback from that group indicated that people didn't have as much of a chance to pray.  When people think they're only going to get one turn at a given topic, they're tempted to pray longer, which exacerbates the problem, causing people to disengage a bit and making harder to agree in prayer (how do you follow the person who just prayed for everything?!).

The three of us who planned the meeting debriefed this morning and agreed that we want to continue to keep this simple and focused on prayer.  We didn't have time to put together childcare for this meeting, but we agreed that that was a need going forward.

We'll be holding our next prayer service on March 29, sticking to our pattern of meeting quarterly on the 5th Sunday of the month that has 5 Sundays.  (This is also the pattern for our "outside the box" serving; every month that has 5 Sundays, we use the 5th Sunday as a time of community service rather than our normal worship meeting).  We're planning to meet quarterly for the first half of the year, and then to consider increasing the frequency to monthly.

Meantime, we're beginning plans for an "equipping class" to train congregation members in prayer.  More to come on that.

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Laylat al-Qadr (commonly known as the Night of Power, Night of Decree, Night of Value, Night of Measures, or Night of Destiny) is considered the holiest night of the year for Muslims and is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. This day commemorates the day when the Qur'an was revealed to Mohammed.
This is a day when many Muslims believe that God's abundant blessings are mercy are more accessible on this night. Pray that as they celebrate this night, Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, would show up in mighty ways. Pray that hearts would be opened to the Good News.
Over the next 24 hours, numerous communities of believers throughout the Arabian Peninsula will be gathering to pray for Jesus to show up and move on this night. Please pray for the Holy Spirit's leading, coverage, and protection as many gather together and declare Jesus over the Arabian Peninsula.
Also, on May 31, you can tune into prayercast and join many in praying for Muslims on this day. You can watch the livestream here:
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Pray for a college student, N. After openly hearing the gospel from his professor, he sent the professor a video of Islamic arguments doubting the historical death of Christ. The professor answered all 30 of the points made. Today, N told the professor that he was so glad to have a knowledgeable person telling him about Christianity in a way he had not heard previously. Pray for his salvation, especially during this month of Ramadan.
 
Pray that as our friends read the Qur'an over Ramadan, they would have a greater curiosity for the Bible.  Pray that they would be open to reading it and that would have the courage to do so.
Here you may find links to movies defending the faith:
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As many of you know from the news, a lot is happening in the AP these days.  Tensions between the US and Iran are rising due to oil tankers being attacked in the Gulf of Oman.  Drones are being shot down.  The US will be sending 1500 more troops to the Middle East.  Air travel is being diverted away from the Strait of Hormuz.  

The Houthis in Yemen are firing missiles into Saudi Arabia, particularly Abha airport in the southern part of Saudi close to Yemen.  The Houthis have fired missiles into the capital city of Riyadh as well.  

The UK has ruled that British arm sales to Saudi Arabia are unlawful.   The World Food Programme has been forced to suspend food deliveries to Sana'a, Yemen due to Houthi interference in aid delivery.

The economy of the UAE is struggling as evidenced by white collar, expat workers not being hired in similar numbers as before, and much money being spent on UAE military involvement in Yemen and in other countries.  The broken ties between Qatar and Saudi Arabia/Bahrain/Egypt/UAE continue with no solution in sight.  

It looks like God is shaking up the region.

Let's pray Hebrews 12:28, giving thanks to God for giving us a kingdom that CANNOT BE SHAKEN!  Pray that AP Arabs would receive this unshakable kingdom and offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe for our God is a consuming fire.  Praise God for all the local believers in the AP.  The numbers are small and the growth is slow, but it continues and the worship of Jesus will not be thwarted by wars or rumors of war or anything else in all creation!

Also, here is an interesting report from the BBC about the ancient city of Marib in Yemen.  The Yemenis believe that Marib was the center of the Queen of Sheba's kingdom.  Both Yemenis and Ethiopians claim the Queen of Sheba as their own.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-47659340/yemen-s-ancient-city-where-people-escape-civil-war

Here is a small oasis in the midst of a country shaken up by war, but this is only temporary unless the war ends.  Let's continue to pray for the end of this war, confident that God promises to build his UNSHAKABLE church in Yemen and the rest of the AP no matter what happens for we know that he can do all things and that no purpose of his can be thwarted (Job 42:2).  Amen!
PTAP's Vision
"To see the global church praying for the Arabian Peninsula so that the gospel and churches will be planted for every indigenous people in the Arabian Peninsula"
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He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. - Psalm 113: 7,8
November 10, 2018
 
Dear Praying Friends,

November 10 is the International Day of Prayer for Yemen when Christians around the world will be uniting to pray for Yemen.  As you know, PTAP has been encouraging much prayer for Yemen due to the immense suffering of the Yemeni people from the horrors of war, resulting in the worst humanitarian disaster in the world today.  So please join us in prayer again, united in the Spirit as one body of Christ, for God to have mercy upon the people and country of Yemen.  

Most of all, pray for the end of the civil war!!!  Pray for successful negotiations and a resulting ceasefire.  Pray for all fighting and killing to stop. Pray against famine and cholera and all disease.  Pray for all humanitarian efforts to be successful. Pray for normal life to return so that the country can start to heal and prosper again.  
Below are links to resources to help you pray.  Also, we recommend the following:
  1. Spend a dedicated time of personal, focused prayer for Yemen.
  2. Fast if possible.
  3. Lead your family, small group, church, etc. in a time of corporate, focused prayer.
  4. Share on social media that November 1o is the International Day of Prayer for Yemen and encourage your friends to pray.
PTAP's Yemen page:  http://prayforap.com/yemen.html
Pray4Yemen:  pray4yemen.com
PTAP's Facebook:  facebook.com/PRAYTAP 
PTAP's Prayermate mobile app:  http://praynow4.org/arabianpeninsula


Here is a short testimony from a Yemeni believer and also recent prayer requests from Yemeni believers themselves.  Let's pray along with our brothers and sisters. They are greatly encouraged when they know that we are praying with them.  

My story
"I used to live with fear and hatred, and I was tired of living this way.  It made me sick. So one day, I fervently prayed to God to free me from this unrighteousness, and God sent me a brother who was actually my neighbor.  He spoke to me about Christ. I saw Christ in his life. God gave me freedom like I have never experienced before.
Now, when I encounter challenges (people of another faith who want to harm me and give me trouble), the only thing I have to give them is love, joy, peace, patience, and reassurance in Christ.  No more fear, no more hatred.  I have complete freedom. I can now trust in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because He lives in me."
Read more…
St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi opens doors for Iftar
ABU DHABI: St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Abu Dhabi opened its doors to serve Iftar to Muslims in an unprecedented ecumenical gesture during the holy month of Ramadan.

Muslims and non-Muslims alike gathered for the fast-breaking evening meal at the church in the heart of the UAE capital. Khalid Al Ameri, the Emirati columnist and social commentator, was welcomed to St. Andrews by the Reverend Andrew Thompson.
from: http://www.arabnews.com/node/1318176/food-health

Pray for the Anglican Church and all those who are coming to break fast at this church. Pray that God may soften people's hearts and welcome to love of Jesus into their hearts.
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Prayer Requests - June 17, 2018
 
Dylan (pseudonym) asked when the "night of power," a particular night at the end of Ramadan in which it is thought more clout is earned with Allah for praying through the night, was to a few young Gulf men. This question led to a sharing of thought in which three young Gulf men heard about the grace that comes through Jesus apart from works. Please pray that the discussion will continue and that these young men will turn their hearts to Him.

An indigenous family has welcomed visits and prayers of Christians for their adult son who has been paralyzed for over a year from the neck down even though his condition worsened after believers prayed for him. Please pray that God will reveal Himself to this family, granting them faith and repentance toward His truth. The Gospel was explained to the paralyzed man, who showed great emotional response to it in his face, although he cannot speak.  Despite the "failed prayers" for healing, the Christians are now invited to meet the rest of the family during Eid (holiday that follows Ramadan).  Please pray for boldness to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit, and that God would stretch forth His hand to heal this man as a testimony to the Truth.
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In the Arab Gulf, fruitful conversations are continuing to take place. A Christian professor was surprised to see Alex (pseudonym)'s Instagram post from in stylish script, with a tiny reference to Matt. 19.  The professor wrote to ask, "Do you know the source of your quote?" 
Alex answered, "Umm. No." This exchange later led to a private explanation of the gospel, and Alex was delighted to take an Arabic New Testament home.  Pray for his salvation and growth.
Pray the prayer of Samuel Zwemer over Gulf Arabs:
Samuel Zwemer (1867-1952), "The Apostle to Islam", wrote this prayer in 1923.  It is still very relevant today.  Pray this prayer with us for Muslims all over the world, especially for the local Arabs in the AP and those on summer holidays in Europe right now.  
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who hast made of one blood all nations and hast promised that many shall come from the East and sit down with Abraham in thy kingdom: We pray for thy prodigal children in Muslim lands who are still afar off, that they may be brought nigh by the blood of Christ.  Look upon them in pity, because they are ignorant of thy truth. Take away pride of intellect and blindness of heart, and reveal to them the surpassing beauty and power of thy Son Jesus Christ.  Convince them of their sin in rejecting the atonement of the only Savior.  Give moral courage to those who love thee, that they may boldly confess thy name. Hasten the day of religious freedom in Turkey, Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Africa.  Send forth reapers where the harvest is ripe, and faithful plowmen to break furrows in lands still neglected.  May the tribes of Africa and Malaysia not fall prey to Islam but be won for Christ.  Bless the ministry of healing in every hospital, and the ministry of love at every church.... Strengthen converts, restore backsliders, and give all those who labor among Muslims the tenderness of Christ, so that bruised reeds may become pillars of his church, and smoking flaxwicks burning and shining lights.  Make bare thine arm, O God, and show thy power.  All our expectation is from thee.
Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son in the Muslim world, and fulfill through him the prayer of Abraham thy friend, "O, that Ishmael might live before thee."  For Jesus' sake. Amen.
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Please pray for the salvation of Dr. D's summer course student, Andy (pseudonym). Although from the Gulf, Andy once lived in Los Angeles, where he became involved with a gang. Thankfully, Andy was able to leave that situation left that situation, and he has shared some of his life with Dr. D. They have, in fact, become confident friends. Pray for meaningful conversations about the gospel in the next few weeks, and for the Spirit of God to convince Andy of the Truth.

There was a group in one AP country that specifically did campus ministry at a local university. The girls of that group started to find that many of the local female students had questions about who Jesus is. So, they started having Bible studies with these students, and in the end, about 13 female students began to meet regularly and read through the Bible together. They continued to disciple the students for some time, but the group ended up leaving altogether. They did, however, hand the girls off to other believers. Please pray for spiritual fruit among these university students. Pray that the seeds of the gospel sown in them will grow into full salvation in Jesus Christ. Pray that they would continue to be hungry for the Word and find Jesus to be sufficient and satisfying.

Pray for a local man who has been hospitalized for a year since last Ramadan. He is wasting away and cannot communicate but is conscious and can hear. A member of his Muslim family happened to sit next to a Christian on a bench. Although they were total strangers to each other, the Muslim struck up a conversation and directly invited the Christian to pray specifically for a divine healing for the man. Such an invitation was certainly seen as a divine appointment by the believer! Pray for God to be glorified in healing and salvation of the man, his family, and those who hear the testimony! Pray for the fame of the Lord to spread and draw multitudes to Him through the Son.

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This year, Ramadan begins on approximately May 15 (depending on the moon). During the 30 days of Ramadan, Muslims will be fasting and praying. During the month of Ramadan, PTAP will be sending weekly prayers highlighting specific groups and/or events.

The 2 million Shia of Saudi Arabia represent one of the most unreached peoples of the world. As a small minority group within a conservative Sunni community, the Shi'a... in Saudi Arabia have endured hundreds of years of hardship and discrimination. Let us pray on behalf of the Shia people, that they would seek and find true freedom and peace in Christ. Let us also pray that the Lord would prepare workers to engage them.

More information on the Shi'a of Saudi Arabia can be found in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhWn1W2Zl3w&feature=youtu.be

More information is in this PDF:
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp…

Prayer Requests:

•That the Gospel would take hold of their communities, and that the Spirit of God would move mightily among their families and tribes
•For a spirit of childlike humility and repentance to displace pride and hardness of heart
•That the Shi'a of Saudi Arabia would seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, even above their own welfare and political freedoms
•For a spirit of righteousness and justice to flood through their homes, communities, and the Saudi government
•For peace to reign in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. That they would know Christ as the Prince of Peace
•That the Lord would raise up many workers to sow and to harvest the Gospel among the Shi'a of Saudi Arabia

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PTAP: The Yeast of the Kingdom

He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."
-Matt 13:33

The kingdom of God is like yeast, moving all throughout the dough. Believers in the Arabian Peninsula are like that yeast with dough all around. May the Lord move His people by His great will through the Arabian Peninsula.

Pray, O Lord and sovereign God, send us where You will, move us as You desire, and lead the believers in the Arabian Peninsula by Your Spirit. May Your kingdom come and increase throughout this entire Arabian Peninsula as yeast does in dough. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

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Ramadan begins this coming Saturday (May 27), and many throughout the Arab Peninsula will be fasting, going to special prayers at the mosques, and spending time reading the Qur'an more. Pray that Jesus will visit many in dreams and visions during this special time, and that there may be a hunger for Truth among many in the Arabian Peninsula. Also pray for the Muslim background believers during this time--that they will hold on to their faith with steadfastness and not be ashamed of the Gospel. 

Pray that believers in the Arabian Peninsula will keep themselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21). Ask that the believers will gladly receive the never ceasing stream of living water, i.e. the love of God, with praise. Pray that the believers will sense the love of God in the workplace, streets, in conversations with local neighbors, in whatever they do... 

A cholera epidemic has hit the country of Yemen with over 50 deaths in the capital alone according to  Reuters news. Garbagemen have been on strike because they are not being paid. The people have been told that vegetables are contaminated. Please pray for those who are grieving the loss of family. Please pray that the epidemic will be contained and eradicated. Please pray for peace in Yemen.
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Day 2 - August 31, 2017
Sacred Act 2: Wuqoof (standing at Arafat)
Today is the most important day of the Hajj. Why? Because Muslim scholars say this is the "day the religion of Islam was perfected." The Hajj only becomes valid when the day of Wuqoof is observed. For it is on this day Muslims believe their major and minor sins are forgiven.* If they miss this day, their pilgrimage is pointless. Today, they will invoke Allah for mercy and forgiveness as they stand or sit near Mount Arafat. Muslims believe that as they finish this day they are cleansed of sin,* which also brings freedom from shame. At sunset, a cannon sounds. Pilgrims leave Mount Arafat going to Muzdalifah, where they sleep or stay up all night under the stars.
Key Scriptures to Pray
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)
He [Jesus Christ] commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he [Jesus] is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:42-43)
Going before the Father
◦Muslim pilgrims long for their major and minor sins to be removed from their lives. John the Baptist's words cry out that Jesus takes away the sins of the world. Pray that Muslims would not feel a cleansed heart, mind and soul until they realize the finished work that Jesus has accomplished on their behalf.
◦God appointed Jesus to be judge of the living and the dead. Everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ receives forgiveness of sins. Pray that the truth of the Lord Jesus' life, death and resurrection would penetrate the hearts of longing Muslims. Pray they will be drawn to the Giver of Life.
◦Pray that as many Muslims seek to stay up all night to pray, they would have dreams and visions of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 2:17). Ask God for an open heaven and for the people who are genuinely seeking an encounter with God to have one that leads them to the incredible truth found in Jesus.
What does the Bible say?
* The Bible talks about sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Matthew 26:28, Acts 2:38, 1 John 1:7
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New Season

As Ramadan has come to a close, pray for freedom from a religious spirit that keeps people in bondage to faith in their own works. Pray that believers will live out their faith in front of their neighbors and co-workers in a way that will attract them to Jesus Christ. Continue to pray that locals will have dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. Pray that they will hunger to know Him for who is truly is and connect with believers who can help disciple them.

Be in prayer for university students who are seeking Jesus Christ and reading the Word. Pray that they will read with hunger and understanding and that they will come to be saved by faith in Him. 

Pray for a new believer who is standing alone. Pray for strength, sweet time in the Word, opportunities for discipleship, rapid growth in intimacy with the Lord, and a deep and enduring faith that will carry through no matter the circumstances.

Please pray for a small neighborhood where much Good Seed has been sown, and there has been a lot of interest and response. After some years of friendship and spiritual discussion, local families were interrogated about their western Christian friends. About the same time, there were several accidental deaths in the same small neighborhood. Although the western Christians stopped visiting for the sake of their friends, some local believers remain. Please pray for them and for the growth of the Church in that place.
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PTAP: Hajj/Pilgrimage in Mecca, Day 3.

For the pilgrims, day three is the longest day. It might take some people two days, and the pilgrimage is not finished until they complete all of these sacred acts. 

There are five different sacred acts to perform today and they can be done in almost any order. This can take some people more than one day.

1. They will stone the pillars of Satan
2. Men will shave their heads (an act of humility and cleanliness)
3. They will sacrifice a permissible animal
4. They will circle the Ka'aba seven times
5. They will run between the two hills of Safa and Marwa
Key Scripture to Pray 
And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Jesus Christ) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:10-14)



Going before the Father
 
Ephesians 6:12 states "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against... the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Muslims understand there is a spiritual battle caused by Satan. Throwing rocks at Satan during the day of stoning is meaningless apart from the cross and resurrection which defeated Satan. Pray that they will know Christ and have mighty weapons "for the tearing down of strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4) 
 
* In the Old Testament, sacrificing animals meant the forgiveness of sins. After Jesus died on the cross, animal sacrifice was not required, for His death covered all sins. Pray that Muslims will understand the meaning behind the sacrifice and the cross of Jesus. Pray that they will understand that the Father so loved the world that He had to give His Son (Jesus) because whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). 
 
* As Muslims circle the Ka'aba and run from hill to hill, ask that they will see the futility of these acts. They can have peace with God and a commitment to Him, but it is only through what Christ did for them. Pray that they will hear this good news and believe.
 
 * Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6) As the pilgrims leave, pray they may still feel extreme emptiness and a lack of peace until they know the Redeemer of their souls, Jesus.
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Sacred Act 1: Ihram (cleaning, preparation day)
Pilgrims must enter into the state of Ihram (purity) which involves washing then wearing white, plain garments. These garments indicate that all pilgrims are equal. Following this cleansing, pilgrims are officially on the Hajj. As they cross the pilgrimage boundary, the men will shout the Talbiyah, a Muslim prayer: "Here I am at Thy service O Lord, here I am. Here I am at Thy service and Thou hast no partners.* Thine alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and Thine alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners."*
Before many of the modern conveniences, the first day of the Hajj was spent collecting enough water for the next day of the Hajj. Now it has become a day of cleansing, visiting the Ka'aba in the Grand Mosque, and entering the mosque with their right foot first. After leaving the Grand Mosque, many pilgrims will walk to the tent city of Mina to spend the night.
Key Scriptures to Pray
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3)
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Going before the Father
•Two to three million Muslims come together from all over the world for this spiritual journey called the Hajj. Pray for physical safety and protection from disease.
•Jesus Christ is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of God. Pray that the radiance of Jesus would shine strong and bright today in Mecca. Pray for their spiritual journey to include dreams and visions of Jesus. Pray Muslims would know that Jesus provides "purification for sins."
•As these Muslims walk into the Grand Mosque and see the Ka'aba, they feel like they are entering the most holy place on earth. Hebrews 9:11-14 (above) talks about a "perfect tabernacle," built not by human hands and not of this creation that Jesus Christ entered to provide "eternal redemption." Pray that pilgrims would know that only in Jesus can they have an unblemished and clean conscience.
What does the Bible say?
* It would be in statements like these that Muslims would not allow room for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18-20, Luke 10:21-23, Galatians 4:6
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