Prayer for the Muslim world: Night of Power

June 2018

As part of the 10/10 Prayer Initiative, 180 agencies have come together to ask God to draw to himself 10 percent of the world’s Muslims in the next 10 years. 10/10. Easy to remember, yet such an amazingly big task that only God can do it. SEND International has committed to fast and pray the first Friday of every month — today, and every first Friday for a decade.

By a former missionary in the Middle East — Halfway through Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, some Muslim will be faithfully keeping the fast and others will either be struggling to continue the fast or will have dropped it all together. Whatever the situation, try to take the opportunity to talk about what fasting means to them and what it means to you.

Several passages of Scripture talk about matters of the heart vs. outward appearances and can serve as interesting topics for discussion: Isaiah 58 and 59; Micah 6:6-8 ; 1 Samuel 15:22 ; Matthew 9:13 . God’s requirement that we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before our God will clash with the world’s priorities, but it will resonate and strike a chord in the heart of someone truly seeking to find God.

On or around the 27th day of Ramadan is a time Muslims call the “Night of Power” (also known as the “Night of Destiny”). Muslims consider this night to be full of special blessings and believe that it sets the course for the next year, therefore any prayers offered this night will get extra credit. Some Muslims will try to stay up and pray all night at the mosque seeking God’s blessing. However, since they are uncertain which night is the exact night, they might stay up praying several nights, just to make sure they are there for the right night!

I have to ask myself, when was the last time I stayed up all night in prayer, seeking God’s favor? Not as an obligation, but as a spiritual exercise? Would you consider extending your prayer time with God, seeking his wisdom and direction, as well as asking for Muslim hearts to soften to hear his voice?

Please take advantage of resources offered at www.30daysprayer.com for daily prayer listings, books and agencies involved in outreach to Muslims. I recently set a daily alarm on my phone for 10:10 am. When it rings, I am reminded of the 10/10 Prayer Initiative, and I take time right then to pray for the Muslim world.

Here are some prayer ideas from our Ukraine field:

Many international students from Muslim countries come to Ukraine to pursue a university degree. Pray for ministries reaching out to these international students, that Christ-followers would be able to connect and follow up with interested students and have opportunities to share the gospel with them.
For many of these international students, it will be their only time outside their home countries and away from the constant pressure of Islam. May this time prove fruitful for them, both spiritually as well as educationally. We also pray that those who do step out and put their faith in Jesus would have time to be discipled before returning to their home countries.
Throughout Ramadan, pray that many Muslims who are fasting and praying would see a vision from the True and Living God and have their lives changed, and that Christians, wherever they are, would reach out to Muslims with compassion, mercy and love in this special season of prayer.

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