Project Prayer: Ramadan 2016 - Day 29
Day 29: Overcoming fear of Muslims
By Jordan Rowley, spiritual coordinator, Climbing For Christ
Friend or foe, there’s nothing to fear. (Photo by Gary Fallesen, Mission: Ararat 2010)
If we’re honest, sometimes different languages, accents, cultures, clothing and religions can be pretty intimidating. If we add in the nightly news about radical Islamist groups like Boko Haram abducting hundreds of children in Nigeria or ISIS crucifying Christians in the Middle East or even “lone wolf” jihadists in North America or Europe, things can quickly escalate beyond a little intimidating to downright scary.
However, as Christians, we need not fear.
In his second letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul instructed the believers to bring “every thought into captivity.” Just prior, Paul wrote, “for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.”
In other words, we must not allow our human emotions and fleshly reactions to dictate our response to any given situation. Rather, we must acknowledge that although we live these lives in these temporal bodies, we are to walk by faith in the unseen. We, as followers of Christ, are to heed His words, however much they go against our immediate feelings, trusting that He guides us into only good.
For example, in Matthew 5:43-45, Jesus spoke these words: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Now, we have to pause for a moment to acknowledge that although there are those who wish harm upon anyone who doesn’t follow their particular brand of Islam, not all followers of Islam are our “enemies.” Some may wish to paint the world this way, but it simply isn’t true. There are many wonderfully kind and gentle Muslims all around the globe.
Either way, whoever the individual is and whatever their perspective is, we are called to love. Back in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he wrote, “let all that you do be done with love.” So, whether we’re talking about friends, enemies or anyone between, we are to love indiscriminately!
That said, the most loving thing we can do is pray – for friend and foe alike.
Today pray for:
- Those who hate people who do not adhere to their version of Islam – even to the point of violence. Whether they’re considered zealous followers of Islam or terrorists linked with groups like ISIS, Boko Haram and Al-Qaeda, may the Lord turn the hearts of many to Christ! And in the shadow of the cross, may we ask for God to forgive all of our “enemies” because “they do not know what they do.”
- The multitude of Muslims who are not hateful enemies, but could be friends. May the Lord stir their hearts. And may many, even today, come to faith in Jesus!
- Christians in the West and Muslim-majority nations. May God grant them hearts that represent and reflect the love of Jesus in all ways, including praying for and blessing those who would persecute us.
The series
- Day 1: Introduction to 30 days of prayer and preparation to preach the Good News to the Muslim world.
- Day 2: Understanding Islam, part 1 —Allah and his prophet.
- Day 3: The honor/shame culture, part 1.
- Day 4: Sharing the Gospel, part 1 — Truth and love, no compromise.
- Day 5: The Muslim unengaged.
- Day 6: What’s so radical about loving Muslims?
- Day 7: Entering rooms in the House of Islam —Pakistan.
- Day 8: Entering rooms in the House of Islam — Nigeria.
- Day 9: Entering rooms in the House of Islam — Turkey.
- Day 10: Understanding Islam, part 2.
- Day 11: Sharing the Gospel, part 2 — Simply Jesus.
- Day 12: Overcoming obstacles, part 1 — Family, fear, community and tradition.
- Day 13: Something is happening! New ways for new movements.
- Day 14: Entering rooms in the House of Islam – East Africa.
- Day 15: Understanding Islam, part 3 — Beliefs and duties
- Day 16: Sharing the Gospel, part 3 — Persevering in prayer.
- Day 17: The honor/shame culture, part 2 — Who I am.
- Day 18: Overcoming obstacles, part 2 — A history of conflict and contempt.
- Day 19: Muslim extremists — praying for our enemies.
- Day 20: Entering rooms in the House of Islam —Indonesia.
- Day 21: The honor/shame culture, part 3 — For His purpose.
- Day 22: Sharing the Gospel with Muslims, part 4 — A growing opportunity.
- Day 23: A sacred stirring – Muslims coming to Christ in unprecedented numbers.
- Day 24: Counting the cost.
- Day 25: Five daily prayers for the Muslim world.
- Day 26: Entering rooms in the House of Islam – Philippines.
- Day 27: “Night of Power” – dreams and visions.
- Day 28: Blessed are the persecuted.
- Day 29: Overcoming fear of Muslims.
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