Praying Toward the Crucifixion
By the time you read this, much of the Christian world will be one week into the season of Lent. It’s the part of the Christian calendar in which believers take the weeks leading up to Easter to focus on walking with Jesus to the cross. In recent years, it has become quite fashionable to give up things for Lent, whether social media, caffeine, or a particular color of MnM’s. But a full, robust participation in Lent has so much more to offer.
It usually involves four things: a special prayer practice, fasting of some kind, generosity, and listening to God (whether for discernment or repentance). Basically, for centuries now, Christians have known they needed an annual reminder to follow Jesus’ commands given in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6.
I’d like to ask you to consider praying about one of two things (or special bonus points for both).
First, consider praying for cross-cultural workers over the coming weeks that they would learn what it means to walk with Jesus to the cross. Pray that they would faithfully die to self as a part of their walk with their Lord. Pray particularly that they would be filled and become more Christlike from whatever practices of prayer, fasting, generosity, and listening they pursue.
Second, consider praying for Muslims. For one of the few remaining times in our lifetimes, the Islamic month of Ramadan will overlap at least in part with Lent. Do you happen to know what Muslims are called to focus on during Ramadan? Among a few other things, prayer, fasting, generosity, and repentance. Pray that this year, as Muslims participate in Ramadan, God would move in such a way that they discover Jesus. Ask that, by the intervention of the Holy Spirit, Muslims who pray, fast, give, and listen would learn who Jesus the Messiah really is.
Along those lines, would you consider joining with us in our annual Ramadan Prayer Challenge? You can sign up here to join hundreds of like-minded prayer partners who will receive daily emails with guidance on how to pray for Muslims during their month of Ramadan.
May the Father be pleased with us as we pray, fast, give, and listen!
Peace.
Andy
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