Post-Diwali

As with many holidays, Diwali has a lot of excitement and hype leading up to it. With holidays like that there can be a lot of post-holiday blues. Many people can get down and depressed after a big holiday. Please pray for Christians of Delhi this time. Pray that they can be there for their Hindu, Jain and Sikh friends after the holidays. Pray that they can show them hope and joy that comes only from Jesus! Pray that Christians are bold in sharing their faith!

Diwali - Day 5 - Bhai Duj

Today is the last day of Diwali. This day (Bhai Duj or Bhau-beej) is for celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters. The sisters will put a tilak (line or lines) on their brother's forehead and the brothers will pamper their sisters and pledge to stand by her side through all of the ups and downs in life.

This part of the holiday isn't as popular in Delhi as in other parts of India, but this can be an important day for people. Please pray for those Christian brothers and sisters that are a part of a Hindu, Jain or Sikh family. Pray that they can really minister to their families on this day. Pray for other Christians that they will show brotherly and sisterly love to their friends and neighbors and that they will share the love of Jesus with them!

Diwali - Day 4 - Padwa & Govardhan Puja

Today is the fourth day of Diwali called Padwa and Govardhan Puja. On this day, as a symbol of love and affection between husband and wife, the married couples exchange gifts. They will also celebrate the Govardhan Puja (worship).

Please pray for the people of Delhi at this time. Pray that Christians will share the love of Jesus with their neighbors. Pray that they will show them how to have a relationship with Jesus! Pray for Christian couples during this day also, that their relationships will be strengthened.

Diwali - Day 3 - Festival of Lights!

Today is the day many people refer to as Diwali. This is the third day of Diwali and it is usually called Diwali, Festival of Lights or Lakshmi Puja (Lakshmi Worship). Many families begin this day by making rangolis (one is seen in the picture above). Diwali is the Festival of Lights! Light is the theme of this day of the holiday! Houses and businesses are all decorated with lights. On this night, people will light diyas (lamps) and light firecrackers most of the night! Light is an important part of this holiday! It is the conquering of light over darkness!

"You O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."

Psalm 18:28

Please pray for the people of Delhi during this holiday. Pray that they will learn about the true light of the world! Pray that followers of Jesus will shine their light and share with others about the light of the world! Pray that Christians are bold in sharing their light! Pray for lives to be changed!!

Diwali - Day 2 - Choti Diwali (Little Diwali)

Today is the 2nd day of Diwali called "Choti Diwali" (also known as Little Diwali or Narak Chaturdasi). A popular legend about this day is that the god Krishna freed the earth from fear and the tyranny of the demon King Naraksur. Most people buy sweets on this day to give to their friends and family. This part of the festival is said to mark the end of evil and the beginning of joy and laughter.

The TRUE God is the only one who can give true joy and laughter.

"You turned my wailing into dancing;

you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.

O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever."

Psalm 30:11-12

- Pray for the Hindus, Jains and Sikhs of Delhi, that they will come to know TRUE joy and laughter that can only come from Jesus Christ!

- Please pray for the new believers of Delhi and this time. The holidays are a big struggle for new believers as they are trying to decide how to celebrate these holidays with their family an stay in their community while also standing strong for Jesus and showing the difference he has made in their life!

- Pray for the followers of Jesus that they will not only share sweets with their neighbors and friends, but also boldly share the sweet love of Jesus!!

Diwali - Day 1 - Dhanteras

Today is the first day of Diwali. Diwali (also called the Festival of Lights) is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. The first day of Diwali is known as Dhanteras and it is the biggest shopping day of the year. During this holiday, people will honor and worship Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth. The purchase of new things - especially in the form of a precious metal - is said to bring luck and wealth to the home for the next year. The more precious metal and more money you spend, the more luck and wealth you will have.

Please pray for the Hindus, Jains and Sikhs of Delhi during this time of Dhanteras. Pray that they will come to understand what true wealth is! Pray that the Christians of Delhi will share with their unbelieving friends about true wealth in Jesus Christ!

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Though him you believe in God, who raised him form the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God."

1 Peter 1:18-21

Pray for Boldness!

^"7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."

2 Timothy 1:7-10

Please pray for the Christians of Delhi - pray for boldness!

GB Road Workers

There are 37,900 registered sex workers in Delhi. Most of them live and work on GB Road. It is not mandatory in India for sex workers to have a health certificate on STDs, so many of these workers are passing on many STDs to their customers. In 2004, 8% of workers in brothels tested positive for HIV. Right now in 2011 those numbers are likely to be drastically higher. Please pray for these women. Most of these women cannot afford to go to the doctor and also cannot afford medicine. Pray for Christian women in Delhi. Pray that they share with these women. Pray that they learn about Jesus! Pray for them as they are hurting, that their hearts are healed through a relationship with Jesus!

"O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me."

Psalm 30:2

Karva Chauth

Today is Karva Chauth. It is a big holiday in Delhi and the rest of North India. In this holiday women show their extreme love and devotion to their husbands by fasting for them. They will fast beginning around 4:00 AM and not eat or drink anything until after their ceremonies are completed in the evening after the moon rise.

Karva means clay pot and Chauth means fourth night after the full moon. The clay pot and the moon are very important in this holiday. The moon is worshiped during this holiday and the clay pot is instrumental in that worship.

Please pray for the families of Delhi. Pray that they will come to know Jesus and know the one that truly suffered for our sakes.

"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are the work of your hand."

Isaiah 64:8


Pray for the women of Delhi that are followers of Jesus with husbands that aren't.  Pray for the women of Delhi who have lost husbands this year.  Please pray for the wives of Delhi!

Sikhs of Delhi

Today many of the Sikhs of Delhi will be celebrating the birthday of Guru Ram Das.   Please pray for the Sikhs of Delhi specifically today.  Pray that they will learn about the one true Guru - Jesus Christ!  Pray that someone will tell them today!

Miracles

"Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  Acts 4:30

Throughout the Gospels and the book of Acts, God did many miraculous things through Jesus and through the disciples who were sent out in Jesus' name. Blind men were given sight, the crippled could walk, dead men and women were raised to live again, and thousands believed in the Most High.

Miraculous healings are one of the ways that people in India come to faith in Jesus after they see that He alone has the power to heal.

Please pray today that people in Delhi who are sick and in need would turn to the One and Only God. May they pray in Jesus' name alone and, upon seeing the results, give praise and worship to Him. 

Father, please use your healing power and your miraculous signs and wonders to capture the hearts of people in Delhi today.

Dussehra 2011

Today is a Hindu holiday called Dussehra or Dusshera. It takes place during Durga Puja.  It's a holiday that has a long history that is based on the stories from the Ramayana. The festival basically celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the death of the demon king Ravana. To celebrate this, there is a big festival and burn effigies of this demon king.

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Pray for the people celebrating this holiday today that they will come to know the one who is truly good!

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"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight."

Isaiah 5:20-21

Navratri Endings

Today is the 8th day of Navratri (tomorrow is the last day). Tonight many people will celebrate with a yagna. A yagna is a "ritual of sacrifice". Families will gather around the sacrificial fire at home or at the temple and present offerings to the gods (along with a Hindu priest in many cases). Everything that is offered into the fire is believed to reach the gods (which is also why Hindus cremate). They will give offerings of ghee (clarified butter), kheer (rice pudding), sesame seeds and other things as an offering to the goddess Durga.

Please pray for Hindus in Delhi during this night. Pray that they feel emptiness as they do these rituals. Pray that they learn of the sacrifice Jesus made for them!

Pray for the Christians of Delhi too. Pray that they share with their Hindu friends boldly and without fear! Pray that they share about Jesus and the sacrifice he made for them.

Joy of Giving Week

This week in India it is the "Joy of Giving Week." It is said that it is: "An Event that Brings India together to celebrate Joy in the Act of Giving." Many people here in Delhi (and the rest of world) give in order to benefit themselves. Karma plays a big part in this here in India.

Please pray for Christians during this week. Pray that while giving, they won't just give, but share about Jesus' love. Pray that many receive the gift of eternal life and a relationship with Jesus and understand true joy!