Muslims are encouraged to think about the poor during the month of Ramadan, to sympathize with them, and to make donations. Jesus loved the poor and said, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Pray for Muslims in Bosnia to encounter this radical teaching and to wrestle with His command to not just donate to the poor, but to know that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor.
“Jesus got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, ‘Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you’” (John 13:4-5, 12-15).
Pray that new discovery groups and emerging churches would follow the example of Christ, washing one another’s feet. Ask that God would show the church what it means to be servant leaders in the community. Pray the Lord would break the need for ‘competition’ and ‘one-upmanship’ and would release, instead, a spirit of humility. Ask God to break toxic ways of relating to one another.
Sometimes it’s hard to imagine that God could use us in our weakness. Many new believers are hesitant to start groups in their homes because they are afraid they don’t know enough. Pray that young believers in Bosnia will rely on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit as they discover with their friends and family. Pray for churches in Bosnia to support them.
This month, we want to encourage you to pray in new or unique ways as we lift the Bosniak people. Each day, we will be highlighting a way you can engage one of the “5 senses” to specifically pray for Bosnia.
TOUCH
Prayer beads are used in many different faiths. In Islam, misbaha usually consist of 33 or 99 beads, representing the 99 names of God (repeated three times if there are only 33 beads). Short sayings, such as “God is great” are sometimes repeated for each bead. During Ramadan especially, it’s not uncommon to see people in Bosnia walking around with prayer beads, giving them as gifts, or selling them.
If you have anything beaded in your home (a bracelet, necklace, or even a rosary), hold it and imagine how someone using prayer beads in Bosnia might feel. Praise God that, while he allows us to utilize different objects to aid our prayer life, we have the freedom to expand beyond them and simply talk with God. Pray that Bosniaks this Ramadan would find that same freedom to just talk with their Heavenly Father who loves them.
“For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. [But eventually the churches could testify:] “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Gal 1:13, 23-34).
Pray that extremists and violent zealots would encounter the King of Peace, Jesus, and would follow him in self-sacrificing love. Pray that a spirit of peace would be released over the people of Bosnia. From the fields to the suburbs, from the villages to the skyscrapers, from the kitchen table to the halls of power, let Apostle Pauls be raised up and let their hearts turn towards building your Kingdom instead of trying to destroy it.