Eid-ul-Fitr

Today is the Holiday called Eid-ul-Fitr, or more commonly known as Eid. This begins on the last day of Ramadan. In Delhi and the rest of South Asia, this holiday is celebrated for 3 days. On the first day, after their Eid prayers, it is common for families to visit graveyards and pray for the salvation of departed family members.

Pray for the Muslims of Delhi during this time. Pray that they will be told what true salvation is! Pray that the Christians of Delhi will be bold and not afraid to tell Muslims they know or meet about the salvation that comes only through Jesus Christ!

Night of Power - TONIGHT - Ramadan

Tonight is the Night of Power for Muslims in this time of Ramadan. The Night of Power is from sunset to dawn and is considered the holiest night of the year. Many Muslims believe that there are groups of special angels who are only seen on the Night of Power. They believe that these angels perform special purposes - some for worship, some there to grant requests of Muslims and some bring proclamations of the coming year.

Tonight, many Muslims think this is a special night when God gives heed to their requests. Many people are open to dreams and visions and see for guidance and revelation on this day. Many Muslims pray all night while seeing a response to specific requests they may have. One common belief is that Angels will give blessings to those that say awake during this night.

Please pray for the Muslims of Delhi on this night. Our God does many amazing things on this night! Many Muslims have dreams and visions on this night that lead them to Jesus! Please pray that Our Father will draw them to himself on this night.

Researchers contend that 80% of new Christians in Delhi and the rest of South Asia come to Christ as a direct result of supernatural encounters.

Please pray for a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to the many Muslims in Delhi who will seek God tonight!

For more information - click here: http://www.30-days.net/islam/basics/night-of-power/

Night of Power - Ramadan

Tomorrow night is the "Night of Power" (Laylat-al-Qadr).  It is a part of the  Ramadan celebrations. The actual day of the Night of Power is debated, but it is the anniversary of the night that Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad. On this day, Muslims often pray extra prayers, particularly the night prayer.

God often works in miraculous ways throughout the Muslim world on this night! Every year there are stories of Muslims having dreams or visions that lead them to Jesus. Please pray that the Muslims of Delhi would have dreams and visions that lead them to a relationship with Jesus! Please pray for the Muslims of Delhi as they are preparing for the Night of Power tomorrow night.

For more information - click here: http://www.30-days.net/islam/basics/night-of-power/

There are many stories throughout the Bible where God spoke through a dream or vision. (Genesis 41,Genesis 46:2; 3, Daniel 4, Judges 7:10-15, Ezekiel 11:24, Matthew 2:12, 19, Acts 10:3-20, Revelation 1:1). In many of these cases the end result was for the purpose of salvation or physical safety.

* Consider setting this night aside as an all night prayer time with your church or mission group.

* As you pray during this night, pray for people such as Muslim leaders and governments, Muslim families and children. Pray for increased numbers of overseas workers, and pray for new believers (1 Timothy 2:1).

* Pray for a supernatural move of the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus to the many Muslims who will seek God tonight (Psalm 118:21, Acts 4:33).

Imams During Ramazan

Imams are Muslim religious leaders in the community.  They often lead the calls to prayer and are looked to as a great spiritual leader with authority.   Many Muslims do not read the Quran, so they rely on the imams to teach them the tenets of their religion.  

Please Pray for Imams in Delhi (and all over the world!) to come to know Christ and to use the considerable influence they have in their communities to teach about Jesus!

Friday Prayers

In Islam there are the 5 daily prayers, but there is also the Friday prayer. Today (Friday), many Muslims will gather at the mosques of Delhi for the Friday Congregational Prayers.  Today, there will be more people than normal at the mosques because it is Ramazan.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me will all your heart."

Jeremiah 29:13

Pray for those that are praying today at the Friday Prayer time (and every other prayer time). Pray that the Muslims there will seek out the one true God will all of their heart. Pray that their hearts and minds are open. Pray for the Christians of Delhi to be open, willing and ready to share the Gospel with their Muslim friends, neighbors or people they meet in passing.

Raksha Bandhan

Today is a Hindu holiday called "Raksha Bandhan". It is sometimes called the brother-sister holiday. On this holiday, sisters tie a Rakhi (a bracelet like seen above) on their brothers wrists. The brother then offers a gift to his sister and promises to look after her and protect her. She will also give sweets to her brother.

This holiday, like many holidays, family members get together and spend time with each other. Sometimes sisters will travel a far distance to see their brothers. This is a great opportunity for the Gospel to spread in Delhi and outside of Delhi!! Pray for those sisters and other family members that are Christians. Pray that they are bold in sharing their faith as they travel to see their family. Pray that they aren't afraid to share with unbelieving family members! Pray for the brothers that are believers too, pray that they share with their unbelieving families during this time also!

Christians During Ramadan

Many Christians aren't sure what to do when a holiday like Ramadan comes around. Many people (including Christians) in Delhi stay away from areas with high concentrations of Muslims. Please pray for Delhi Christians to be bold during this time.

³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Matthew 22:36-40

Please pray that Christians in Delhi will love their Muslim friends and Neighbors as they would themselves. Pray that Christians would love their neighbors so much that they would ignore any fears they have and share Jesus with their Muslim friends and neighbors.

Praying Through Ramadan

Please continue to pray for Muslims during this month of Ramadan. Please pray that the Christians of Delhi would be bold in sharing their faith with their Muslim neighbors, friends and people they meet. Pray that they will be wise in what they say and share out of love. Please pray that those Muslims will open their hearts and mind to the things that are being shared with them. Pray that their lives are changed!

^2"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

Colossians 4:2-6

Ramadan

Ramadan is currently going on. This is the Islamic month of fasting. Muslims that are participating in this holiday will fast from sunrise to sunset. During this holiday, Muslims tend to pray more than usual. Please pray for the Muslims of Delhi during this time. Pray that they will have dreams and visions that will lead them to Jesus. Pray for the Christians of Delhi to be bold in sharing their faith with their Muslim friends during this time of heightened spirituality.

Kanwar Yatra

The last two weeks, certain roads in India have been full of thousands of watercarrying, orange-clad kanwarias, devotees of Shiva. Kanwarias, as they're popularly called, carry holy water (kanwar) from the Ganges River (the Ganga) from Neelkanth, Gomukh or Haridwar to be poured on the Shivlinga in their hometown on the occasion of Shivratri. This journey is done on foot, and when completed, it is supposed to fulfill their wishes and endear them to Lord Shiva.

The gangajal (water of the Ganga) is poured over Shivlingas - a process known as Jalabhishek.  The main day that they do this is today.  Two weeks of traveling by foot has lead up to this day.

Please pray for the people that are on this journey.  Pray that this journey leads them to a relationship with Christ!  Pray for Christians to share the Gospel with them today!

Separated from God

Ephesians 2:12  ”Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

Do you remember what it was like to be separated from Christ by sin, to have no fellowship with God? Remember those in Delhi who are separated from Christ and don't have a relationship with him.   Pray for those in Delhi who are without God.  Pray that Believers in Delhi will share with them the hope that is in Christ so that they are no longer separated from God!

Bandh

Today in India there is a country-wide Bandh.  BJP, one of the political groups in Delhi is protesting the petrol price rise that is about to happen in India.  To protest, most public transportation is not running and most stores are closed to protest.  Some of the roads and railways are being blocked in protest as well.  In some cities in India people are burning buses and the protests are getting violent.  

Please pray for Delhi and the rest of India today as these protests go on.  Pray that the protests are not violent and that nobody gets hurt.  Pray for the leaders of Delhi and India to have wisdom during this time.