Ramadan prayer

For the next 30 days, I am asking for prayer for the Muslim people - that God would move mightily amongst them, showing them His love and His salvation and that they might come to know Jesus as their Savior.

Why now? Because of Ramadan.

Muslims throughout the world will celebrate Ramadan from 11 August through 9 September 2010.   They will fast during daylight hours in an effort to break bad habits and seek forgiveness of sins.

Ramada, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims the world over with dawn to dusk fasting.  This provides them with an opportunity to practice one of the "obligations" (also known as the "five pillars") of their religion - soum or fasting.

Muslims fast during Ramadan because they believe this is the time of year in which the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, received "recitations" from the angel Gabriel.  These were later compiled to form the Qur'an.

The most important night of Ramadan - and of the entire year - is called Laylatul Qadr (September 5, 2010).  Also known as the "night of power," it is described in the Qur'an as being "better than a thousand months" (97:3).  "Any action done on this night," writes one Islamic scholar, "such as reciting the Qur'an, remember Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr."

During Ramadan, especially on the night of power, Muslims "ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds."  Many are desperately and genuinely seeking to be cleansed from their transgressions and find favor with God.

Since 1992, Christians all over the world have been setting aside the thirty days of Ramadan to pray specifically for Muslims.  For intercessors, this month-long celebration is a chance to see precious souls set free from the bondage of Islam and introduced to the Savior of all mankind:  Jesus Christ.

My focus for the next 30 days will be on Muslims, who are they, how is God moving among them and how can we pray for them.

There is a website specifically geared towards praying for Muslims during Ramadan. It is The 30 Days Prayer Network

Please pray for them during this time. God loves them just as He loves you and me. He has a plan for their lives. God will work in their hearts as we pray for them.