30 Ways for Muslims to Encounter Christ
Zakat, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires Muslims to donate a set percentage of their wealth each year to Muslim charities. The New Testament teaches Christians to give generously from the heart as opposed to a set percentage.
Pray for the people of BiH to be challenged by the contrast between a religious rule and a heart posture and to want to understand more about the “new heart” that the Bible teaches about (Ezekiel 36:26).
Praying Scripture
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
Ask for the grace of persevering prayer among believers in BiH. Ask the Prince of Peace for leaders of the emerging ‘streams’ of churches and groups that would never become so busy with activity that they cease praying extravagantly. Ask for believers in the emerging movements to have the unabashed persistence of the widow in asking, seeking, and knocking.
Praying for the Church
Pray for the organizations in BiH that use teaching English as a way to share the Gospel. While this takes many forms across the country, we pray that these times of instruction would lead to fruitful conversations. Pray for God’s hand in visa processes, organizational structures, and to bring the right students to the right teachers.
Liberty to the Captives
Each of us who comes to Christ must repent of and renounce every pact, promise, or identity we held before faith in Christ. Join us in praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ from a Muslim background as they repent of their former identity as Muslims. This prayer is inspired by chapter 7 and 8 of Liberty to the Captives by Mark Durie
We are called to walk in the light and live in truth: “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God” (John 3:21).
Pray for all Christians in BiH, particularly those from a Muslim background, to live in truth and for all of their relationships to be marked by truthfulness.
Bosnian Insights
Yesterday we highlighted the three-part presidency in BiH. Another factor that can complicate the political and governmental system here is that BiH has two entities, the Federation and the Republic.
The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is made up of mostly Bosniaks and Croats, and the capital is in Sarajevo. The Republic of Srpska is mostly Serbs, and hosts its capital in Banja Luka. These two entities have different laws, rules, and regulatory bodies, but somehow are meant to be unified under the Federal government (which is also based in Sarajevo). Additionally, there is the Brčko District, which is self-governing.
As if this were not enough, the entire country is overseen by an international regulator (Office of the High Representative, OHR) established after the war who has the ability to step in and make decisions and enforce federal law in BiH. All of this can create a sense of hopelessness for change, especially when there are so many hoops to jump through.
Pray for hope to be found in Christ above all, and for his grace upon those navigating the systems here to implement meaningful changes!