30 Ways for Muslims to Encounter Christ
Muslims and Christians use the same Arabic word for “fasting”. And similar to what we learned yesterday about prayer, the meanings are fundamentally different. Muslim fasting is rigidly defined as no food, water, sex, or smoking from dawn to dusk. Christian fasting takes on many more forms.
Muslim fasting is enforced (or broadly promoted) in Muslim countries during Ramadan. Jesus taught, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret….” (Matthew 6:16-18).
Today we pray for Muslims in BiH to come across Jesus’ teaching about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount and be challenged to continue to investigate His teachings.
Praying Scripture
“Jesus replied, ‘This kind [of demon] can be cast out only by prayer and fasting’” (Mark 9:29).
Ask the Lord for the church in BiH to rediscover the ancient practice of fasting. Ask Him for new spiritual authority and power to be released as movement practitioners fast and pray.
Praying for the Church
Pray for intentional, generous, and effective sharing between near culture ministries. Ethnic tensions in the Balkans can be palpable, but in Christ, we are all one. Pray for these generational wounds to be healed, and for believers around the Balkans to be united as one in the God who is One!
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
The cross destroys Satan’s power and draws us to freedom in Christ. “Now the prince of this world will be driven out, but I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:31-32).
Pray for believers, especially those from a Muslim background, in BiH to be drawn to Jesus and repent of fear that comes from the prince of this world.
Bosnian Insights
Some say that Bosnia and Herzegovina has the most complex governmental system in the world! Here is a short video highlighting this (and trying to explain how it works!).
One factor is that BiH has three presidents. Yes, three! The presidents represent each of the three major people groups (Bosniak, Croat, and Serb), and rotate every eight months over a 4-year term. Additionally, if you don’t belong to one of the three main ethnic groups, then you don’t have presidential representation.
As usual when discussing political and governmental systems, pray that the people in BiH would put their faith in God, who never changes and is steadfast and true, rather than man-made systems.