Muslims and Christians often both talk of 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 Bosnia to come across Jesus’ teaching about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount and be challenged to continue to investigate His teachings.
“Jesus replied, ‘This kind can be cast out only by prayer and fasting’” (Mark 9:29).
Ask the Lord for the church in Bosnia to rediscover the ancient practice of fasting. Ask Him for new spiritual authority and power to be released as movement practitioners fast and pray. Pray that religious and cultural associations with fasting would not hinder the church from capitalizing on this powerful weapon against the enemy.
Pray for intentional, generous, and effective sharing between near culture ministries that are pursuing and progressing toward movement. Would Christians in Bosnia be at peace with ministries around them with the same goals and purposes (the Good News to be preached), and vice versa.
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.
HEARING
Ramadan is a season of solidifying and enjoying community with one another. Conversation, laughing, telling stories…the sounds we associate with good friends, good food, and good times are powerful. In fact, one of the biggest barriers to Bosniak Muslims accepting Christ is the loss of community. Pray today that these sounds associated with fellowship and belonging could be found within the church and that the enemy would be silenced.
Oh Jesus! Help your apprentices in Bosnia be more like you, living with a sense of purpose and urgency to preach the Good News in still other places. Give us the grace to share your Gospel daily. Keep us, Lord, from being bogged down by busyness and programs that you’re not asking us to steward. Liberate our time, our attention, and our energy so that we – like you – would proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom in all communities throughout Bosnia.