Eid al-Adha

Today is Eid. Today Muslim families and friends will get together and sacrifice a goat to remember Abraham's sacrifice. In the morning, men will go to the Mosques for morning prayers. After the prayers, the men will come home and sacrifice the goats (or other animal that they may have). The sacrificed meat will be divided into three parts - one for the poor, one for their neighbors and one for themselves.

Please pray for Delhi's Muslims. Please pray that they will learn about Jesus' sacrifice once and for all (Hebrews 10:1-18). Pray that Christians will share with the Muslims of Delhi about Jesus' sacrifice!

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. ² Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. ³ But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. ⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,

    but a body you prepared for me;

⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings

    you were not pleased.

⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—

    I have come to do your will, my God.’”^[a]

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹² But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. ¹⁴ For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I will make with them

    after that time, says the Lord.

I will put my laws in their hearts,

    and I will write them on their minds.”^[b]

¹⁷ Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts

    I will remember no more.”^[c]

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."

HEBREWS 10:1-18

Pre-Eid

October 27th is a Muslim holiday called Eid-Ul-Adha. In the next few days, Muslims will be purchasing the best domestic animal they can afford for this holiday. In Delhi it is usually a goat (which is why in Delhi this holiday is usually called Baqra/Baqri Eid - Goat Festival). This sacrifice is in remembrance of the story of Abraham and God's command to sacrifice his son (in which later God gave him an animal to sacrifice in his son's place).

Please pray for Christians of Delhi during this time that they will be bold in sharing with the Muslims of Delhi! Many people are afraid of Muslims and do not talk or share with them. Please pray for boldness that they will not be afraid to share with Muslims about the hope that they have inside. Pray that Muslims of Delhi (and all over the world) will be open to hearing and are able to understand the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Navratri - Day 9 - Dussehra

Today is the 9th day of Navratri / Durga Puja.  This is a very climatic day for the festivities and it is also usually the day that Dusshera is celebrated (sometimes celebrated on the 10th day).   It is 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 effigies of this demon king.

Pray for the people celebrating this holiday today.  Pray that they will come to know the one who is truly good!  Praise God for his victory over death!

"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  
But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:55-57

Navratri - Day 8

Today is the 8th day of Navratri.  It is devoted to Mahagauri.  Unmarried girls often pray specifically for their husbands on this day.  They will also pray to this goddess for protection. On this day the fasting of Navratri often comes to an end.  Today is considered one of the most auspicious days of the festival.

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). 

During the days of this festival, it is common for believers to experience increased tension and opposition.  Please pray for the Followers of Jesus on this day.  Please pray that they look for opportunities to share about Jesus.  Please pray that they are wise in the middle of opposition and persecution and that they are bold as well.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear;  thought war break out against me, even then I will be confident."

Psalm 27:1-3

Navratri - Day 7

Today is the 7th day of Navratri.  This day is focused on the goddess Kalratri.  She is said to be the goddess with power to destroy the things that trouble us and cause us to be afraid.  She grants the power to destroy one's enemies.  Saraswati is worshiped on this day by some people.  

Please pray for the Hindus of Delhi today.  Please pray that today they will be told of Jesus, the one that is the MOST powerful!  Please pray for someone to tell them!

I love you, LORD, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,  my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I called to the LORD who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies."

Psalm 18:1-3

Navratri - Day 6

Today is the 6th day of Navratri.  The 6th form of Durga that is worshiped today is Katyani, the goddess of war that slays demons.  Legends say that she can grant "instant results" to requests and can help girls obtain the husband they desire through special fasting.  Some say she also can take away greed and the desire for earthly things as well as remove sins from people's past lives.

Please pray for the Christians of Delhi today.  Please pray that they have many opportunities to share with Hindus that have the desire for their sins to be removed!  Please pray that Christians of Delhi will be bold to share and that the ones that are hearing will have open ears and hearts!  Pray for lives to be changed today!

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 

Navratri - Day 5

Today is the 5th day of Navratri.  The goddess that is worshiped today (a form of Durga) is Skandmatathe, the mother form of the goddess.  This goddess is said to fulfill the desires of a mother figure to those that worship her.  Navratri (Durga Puja as well) is intensified on this day as many 4-5 day worships will begin.  

Many Hindus seek the kind of love that only our Heavenly Father can bring.  There are many obstacles that prevent Hindus from experiencing the love of Jesus Christ.  Please pray against these obstacles!  Pray that they may know the love of their Heavenly Father and have a relationship with him!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

John 3:16-17

Navratri - Day 4

Today is the fourth day of Navratri.  The goddess that is worshiped today (a form of the goddess Durga) is Kushmanda.  She is said to give her devotees success and treasures.  It is believed that she has the ability to dwell on the sun and that the radiance on Earth ultimately comes from her.  

Many Hindus will be worshipping Khushmanda today in hopes of gaining wealth.  More and more Indians are becoming caught up in materialism.  Even though Indian spirituality highly values simplicity and renunciation of wealth, many Hindus prefer to seek after wealth.  Pray for Hindus to find Jesus as the source of all of their needs!  Pray for the Christians of Delhi to share with their Hindu friends and neighbors!

"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'  For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:31-33

Navratri - Day 3

Today is the 3rd day of Navratri.  The goddess worshiped today is Chandraganta (means "moon-bell").  She is considered brave, fierce and beautiful.  Devotees who are beginning a new venture would seek her help to remove obstacles.  She is shown riding a lion and ready for war.  It is believed that the sound of her bell or her voice causes demons to tremble and protects her devotees. 

Please pray for the Hindus of Delhi (and all over the world) today!  They have a lot of fears of demons and evil spirits.  Please pray that they will hear about the One who is more powerful than any demon!  Pray that that Christians of Delhi will not be afraid to share their faith with their Hindu friends and neighbors. 

"There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear;  because fear has to do with punishment.  The one who fears is not made perfect in love.  We love because he first loved us."

1 John 4:18-19

Navatri - Day 2

Today is the 2nd day of Navratri.  The goddess that is worshipped today is Brahmacharini, the goddess of purity and austerity.  The stories about this goddess say that she did a lot of penance and prayer so that she could become the wife of the god Shiva.  Since she was so devout, her wish was granted.  People believe that she helps her devotees to obtain what they desire through piety and purity.

Many who are spiritually seeking, desire purity, and many Hindus think of sin as "impurity".  Please pray that Hindus in Delhi (and all over!) would know the cleansing power of forgiveness in Jesus.  In the culture here it is often difficult to confess sin and be truly open before others.  Pray that people would be willing to open their hearts to Jesus and be humble before others about their sin.  


"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you:  God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we life and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
1 John 1:5-9

Navratri - Day 1

Tonight is the first night of Navratri.  It is one of the most "auspicious" days of the festival.  One this day, the goddess Shailputri is worshipped.  She is the first of the nine forms of Durga.  She is the goddess of nature.  Some devotees sow seeds on this day, which will sprout before the end of the festival and are used as offerings.  A part of the home is dedicated to Durga on this day and the goddess is asked to come and dwell there throughout the festival.

As many Hindus are sowing seeds as part of their worship today, pray that the Lord of the Harvest would bring more workers to sow and to reap for God's kingdom.

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 9:37-38

Navratri 2012

Navratri is a festival that lasts for 9 days (and literally means 9 nights).  There are 3 days devoted to worship of Durga (the Goddess of Valor), 3 days devoted to the worship of Lakshmi (the Goddess of wealth) and 3 days devoted to the worship of Saraswati (the Goddess of Knowledge).

  Some sing devotional songs and perform rituals every morning and night in their home.  Many families make a place for the goddess in their home and call her to stay there for the 9 days.  For many people, particularly women, Navratri is the most important time of worship throughout the year.  Many people claim that they have experienced the 'shakti', or power of the goddess during this festival.  

During these nine days, feasting and fasting take place.  There are many festival activities that take place in the evenings around the city as well.  Many schools and community groups are having Ramlilas (plays about the life of Ram).  

Please pray for the Christians of Delhi during this holiday.  Pray that they don't hide away in their homes while this holiday is going on.  Pray that they are bold in sharing their faith with those around them!