shame (2)

PTAP: Mental Health in Arabia

Pray for individuals currently receiving treatment for mental health conditions.  Pray for freedom from their illness, and for their hearts to feel heard and loved.  Pray for their safety and for cultural acceptance despite acknowledgement of their need for help, especially at this time where many of the Gulf countries are under quarantine.
 
Pray that God would heal the stigma that exists around mental health in the Arabian Gulf culture.  Pray for families to come around those with mental health challenges instead of push them away.
 
Pray for a particular local teenager, we will call her Sarah.  Pray that Jesus would completely heal her from the depression she has faced for the last several years.  Pray that suicidal thoughts would cease completely.  Pray for her to have dreams and visions of the Healer while she is receiving inpatient care.  

Pray for professionals working in the mental health arena in the Arabian Gulf.  Ask for wisdom, cultural insight, and innovation as they seek to provide care.  Ask for people with influence to be emboldened to share facts, to quash lies/taboos, and to point people to places they can receive treatment from these professionals. 
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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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