Day 248 - 5 September 2021 reflections
Day 247, 5 September 2021
Today at https://www.calvarycommunity.ca , we addressed Psalm 139
For the Music Director. A Psalm of David.
1 O Lord, You have searched me
and known me.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) You know when I sit down and when I get up;
You understand my thought from far off.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) You search my path and my lying down
and are aware of all my ways.
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) For there is not a word on my tongue,
but behold, O Lord, You know it fully.
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) You put Yourself behind and before me,
and keep Your hand on me.
6 (2Sa 17:22; Dt 3:8-9) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is lofty, and I cannot fathom it.
7 (Ps 88:7; Jnh 2:3) Where shall I go from Your spirit,
or where shall I flee from Your presence?
8 (Job 35:10; Ps 63:6) If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell at the end of the sea,
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) even there Your hand shall guide me,
and Your right hand shall take hold of me.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light shall be as night about me,"
12 even the darkness is not dark to You,
but the night shines as the day,
for the darkness is like light to You.
13 You brought my inner parts into being;
You wove me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise you, for You made me with fear and wonder;
marvelous are Your works,
and You know me completely.
15 My frame was not hidden from You
when I was made in secret,
and intricately put together in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw me unformed,
yet in Your book
all my days were written,
before any of them came into being.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them,
they are more in number than the sand;
when I awake,
I am still with You.
19 If only You would slay the wicked, OGod!
O violent men, depart from me.
20 For they speak against You with malice,
and Your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not abhor those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
try me, and know my concerns,
24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
Ezekiel 31 - 33
Ezekiel 31
Pharaoh to Be Slain
1 (Eze 30:20; Jer 52:5-6) In the eleventh year, in the third month,
on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 29:19; 30:10) Son of man, speak to Pharaoh king of Egypt,
and to his multitude:
Whom are you like in your greatness?
3 (Isa 10:33-34; Da 4:10) Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,
with fair branches and shade for a forest,
and high stature;
and its top was among the clouds.
4 (Eze 17:5; 17:8) The waters made it great;
the deep set it up on high.
With its rivers it continually ran
all around its plants,
and sent out its little rivers
to all the trees of the field.
5 (Da 4:11; Eze 17:5) Therefore its height was exalted
above all the trees of the field,
and its boughs were multiplied,
and its branches became long
because of the abundance of water, as it spread them out.
6 (Eze 17:23; Da 4:12) All the fowl of heaven
made their nests in its boughs;
and under its branches
all the beasts of the field gave birth;
and under its shadow
all great nations lived.
7 Thus it was fair in its greatness,
in the length of its branches,
for its roots were
by many waters.
8 (Eze 28:13; Ge 13:10) The cedars in the garden of God
could not match it;
the fir trees
were not like its boughs,
and the chestnut trees
were not like its branches;
nor was any tree in the garden of God
like it in its beauty.
9 (Ge 13:10; Isa 51:3) I made it beautiful with an abundance of branches,
so that all the trees of Eden envied it,
that were in the garden of God.
10 (Eze 28:17; Da 5:20) Therefore, thus says the Lord God: Because
it is lifted up in height and has shot up its top among the clouds,
and its heart is arrogant in its height,
11 (Dt 18:12; Eze 32:11-12) I therefore will deliver it into the hand
of the mighty one of the nations. He shall surely deal with it.
I have driven it out for its wickedness.
12 (Eze 28:7; 35:8; 30:11) Aliens, the tyrants of the nations have
cut it off and left it. Upon the mountains and in all the valleys
its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken
by all the rivers of the land. And all the peoples of the earth
have gone down from its shadow and have left it.
13 (Eze 32:4; Isa 18:6) Upon its ruin all the fowl of the heavens
shall remain, and all the beasts of the field shall be
upon its fallen branches
14 (Ps 82:7; Eze 26:20) to the end that none of all the trees
by the waters exalt themselves for their height,
or shoot up their tops among the clouds, or their well-watered trees stand up
in their height. For they all have been delivered to death, to the nether
parts of the earth in the midst of the sons of men, with those who go down
to the pit.
15 Thus says the Lord God: On the day when it went down to Sheol
I caused mourning. I covered the deep over it and restrained its rivers,
and its many waters were stayed. And I caused Lebanon to mourn for it,
and all the trees of the field fainted for it.
16 (Isa 14:15; 14:8; Eze 26:15) I made the nations to shake at the sound
of its fall when I cast him down to Sheol with those who descend into the pit.
And all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon,
were comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17 (Ps 9:17; Eze 31:6) They also went down into Sheol with it to those
who were slain with the sword. And those who were its power lived
under its shadow in the midst of the nations.
18 (Eze 32:19; 32:21; 28:10) To whom are you thus like in glory
and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet you shall be brought down
with the trees of Eden to the nether parts of the earth. You shall lie
in the midst of the uncircumcised with those who were slain by the sword.
This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 32
A Lament for Pharaoh and Egypt
1 (Eze 30:20; 32:17) In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month,
on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 29:3; 27:2) Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king
of Egypt and say to him:
You likened yourself to a young lion of the nations,
but you are as the monster in the seas;
and you burst forth in your rivers,
and muddied the waters with your feet,
and made foul their rivers.
3 (Eze 12:13) Thus says the Lord God:
I will therefore spread out My net over you
with a company of many peoples,
and they shall bring you up in My net.
4 (Isa 18:6; Eze 29:5) Then I will leave you upon the land;
I will cast you out on the open field,
and I will cause all the fowl of the heavens to remain upon you.
And I will fill the beasts of the whole earth with you.
5 (Eze 31:12) I will lay your flesh upon the mountains,
and fill the valleys with your refuse.
6 (Isa 34:3; Ex 7:17) I will also water the land with your blood,
as far as the mountains;
and the rivers shall be full of you.
7 (Isa 13:10; Joel 2:31) When I put you out, I will cover the heavens
and make their stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
and the moon shall not give its light.
8 (Ge 1:14) All the bright lights in the heavens
I will make dark over you,
and set darkness upon your land,
says the Lord God.
9 (Rev 18:10-15) I will also vex the hearts of many peoples when I bring
your destruction among the nations, into the countries
which you have not known.
10 (Eze 26:16; 27:35) Indeed, I will make many peoples amazed at you,
and their kings shall be horribly afraid for you when I brandish My sword
before them. And they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own
life, on the day of your fall.
11 For thus says the Lord God:
The sword of the king of Babylon
shall come upon you.
12 (Eze 28:7; 29:19) By the swords of the mighty,
I will cause your multitude to fall.
All of them are tyrants of the nations;
they shall destroy the pride of Egypt,
and all its multitude shall be destroyed.
13 (Eze 29:11; 29:8) I also will destroy all the beasts
from beside many waters;
nor shall the foot of man muddy them anymore,
nor the hoofs of beasts muddy them.
14 Then I will make their waters settle,
and cause their rivers to run like oil,
says the Lord God.
15 (Ex 7:5; Eze 6:7) When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
and the country is destitute of that by which it was full,
when I smite all those who dwell in it,
then shall they know that I am the Lord.
16 (2Sa 1:17; 2Ch 35:25) This is the lamentation, and they shall chant it.
The daughters of the nations shall chant it. They shall chant it over Egypt
and over all her multitude, says the Lord God.
A Dirge for Egypt
17 (Eze 32:1) In the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month,
the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18 (Eze 31:14; Jer 1:10) Son of man, wail for the multitude of Egypt
and cast it down, her and the daughters of the powerful nations,
to the nether parts of the earth, with those who go down into the pit.
19 (Eze 31:18; 32:29-30) "Whom do you surpass in beauty? Descend and make
your bed with the uncircumcised."
20 (Ps 28:3) They shall fall in the midst of those who are slain
by the sword. She is delivered to the sword. They have drawn her
and all her multitudes away.
21 (Isa 14:9-10; Eze 32:27) The strong among the mighty shall speak
to him and those who help him out of the midst of Sheol:
"They have gone down, they lie still, uncircumcised,
slain by the sword."
22 (Eze 32:26; 32:24) Assyria is there and all her company.
Her graves are around her. All of them are slain, fallen by the sword,
23 (Eze 26:20; Ps 27:13; Eze 26:17) whose graves are set in the sides
of the pit and her company is all around her grave. All of them are slain,
fallen by the sword, who cause terror in the land of the living.
24 (Ge 10:22; Jer 49:34-39) There is Elam and all her multitude all around
her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, who descended
uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, who caused their terror
in the land of the living and bore their shame with those who went down
to the pit.
25 (Ps 139:8) They have set a bed for her in the midst of the slain
with all her multitude. Her graves are all around it. All of them
uncircumcised, slain by the sword; though their terror was caused
in the land of the living, yet they have borne their shame
with those who go down to the pit. They were put in the midst
of those who are slain.
26 (Eze 27:13; Ge 10:2; Eze 38:2-3) There is Meshek, Tubal,
and all her multitude. Their graves are all around them.
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused
their terror in the land of the living.
27 (Isa 14:18-19; Job 3:13-15) They shall not lie with the mighty
who are fallen of the uncircumcised, who have gone down to Sheol
with their weapons of war and whose swords were laid under their heads.
But the punishment for their iniquity rested upon their bones,
though the terror of these mighty ones was once in the land of the living.
28 Indeed, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised
and shall lie with those who are slain with the sword.
29 (Jer 49:7-22) There is Edom also, its kings and all its officials,
who for all their might are laid by those who were slain by the sword.
They shall lie with the uncircumcised and with those who go down to the pit.
30 (Eze 38:6; 28:21) There are also the officials of the north, all of them,
and all the Sidonians, who in spite of the terror from their might have gone
down in shame with the slain. So they lie down uncircumcised with those
who are slain by the sword,
and bear their shame with those who go down to the pit.
31 (Eze 31:16; 14:22) Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted
over all his multitude slain by the sword, even Pharaoh and all his army,
says the Lord God.
32 (Eze 32:27) Though I have caused a terror of him in the land
of the living, yet he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised
with those who are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,
says the Lord God.
Ezekiel 33
Renewal of Ezekiel's Call
1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
2 (Eze 3:11; 33:17) Son of man, speak to the children of your people
and say to them: If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land
take a man from among them and set him for their watchman,
3 (Hos 8:1; Ne 4:18) and he sees the sword come upon the land
and blows the trumpet and warns the people,
4 (Eze 18:13; 2Ch 25:16) then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet
and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away,
his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 (Ex 9:19-21; Heb 11:7) He heard the sound of the trumpet yet did not
take warning. His blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning
delivers his soul.
6 (Eze 18:20; 18:24) But if the watchman sees the sword come
and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned
and a sword comes and takes a person from among them,
he is taken away in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from the hand of the watchman.
7 (Jer 26:2; Isa 62:6) Now as for you, son of man: I have set you a watchman
to the house of Israel. Therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth
and warn them from Me.
8 (Eze 18:4; 33:14) When I say to the wicked, "O wicked man,
you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way,
that wicked man shall die in his iniquity. But his blood I will require
from your hand.
9 (Eze 3:19; 3:21) Nevertheless, if you on your part warn the wicked to turn
from his way and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity.
But you have delivered your soul.
God's Justice and Mercy
10 (Lev 26:39; Isa 49:14) Therefore as for you, son of man, say to the house
of Israel: Thus you have spoken, saying, "Surely our transgressions
and our sins are upon us, and we pine away in them. How should we then live?"
11 (Eze 18:23; 2Pe 3:9) Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have
no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn
from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why will you die,
O house of Israel?
12 (2Ch 7:14; Eze 18:21) Therefore you, son of man, say to the sons of your
people: The righteousness of a righteous man shall not deliver him in the day
of his transgression. As for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall
by it in the day that he turns from his wickedness. Nor shall the righteous
be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.
13 (Eze 18:24; Heb 10:38) When I say to the righteous that he shall surely
live and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity,
all his righteousness shall not be remembered. But for that iniquity
of his that he has committed, he shall die.
14 (Eze 18:27; Isa 55:7; Jer 18:7-8) Again, when I say to the wicked,
"You shall surely die," and he turns from his sin and does that which
is lawful and right,
15 (Eze 20:11; Lk 19:8) if the wicked man restores a pledge, gives back
what he had robbed, walks in the statutes of life without committing
iniquity, he shall surely live. He shall not die.
16 (Eze 18:22; Isa 43:25) None of his sins that he has committed shall be
remembered against him. He has done what is lawful and right.
He shall surely live.
17 (Eze 18:25; 18:29) Yet the sons of your people say, "The way of the Lord
is not right," when their way is not right.
18 (Eze 33:12-13) When the righteous turns from his righteousness
and commits iniquity, he shall die by it.
19 But if the wicked turns from his wickedness and does that which is lawful
and right, he shall live by them.
20 (Eze 18:25) Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not right." O house
of Israel, I will judge you, every one according to his ways.
The Fall of Jerusalem
21 (2Ki 25:10; Eze 1:2) In the twelfth year of our captivity,
in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, one who had escaped
out of Jerusalem came to me, saying, "The city is taken."
22 (Eze 1:3; 3:26-27) Now the hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening,
before those who escaped came. And He opened my mouth at the time
they came to me in the morning. Therefore my mouth was opened
and I was speechless no more.
23 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
24 (Isa 51:2; Eze 33:27) Son of man, those who inhabit these wastes
in the land of Israel are saying, "Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land.
But to us who are many, the land has been given for an inheritance."
25 (Ge 9:4; Dt 12:16) Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
You eat meat with the blood in it and lift up your eyes toward
your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land?
26 (Ge 27:40; Mic 2:1-2) You rely upon your sword, you work abominations,
and every one of you defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you then possess
the land?
27 (1Sa 13:6; Jer 42:22) Thus you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord God:
As I live, surely those who are in the ruins shall fall by the sword,
and him who is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured,
and those who are in the forts and in the caves shall die of pestilence.
28 (Eze 7:24; Jer 44:2) For I will make the land a desolation and a waste,
and the pomp of her strength shall cease. And the mountains of Israel
shall be desolate so that none shall pass through.
29 (Eze 6:7) Then shall they know that I am the Lord, when I make the land
a desolation and a waste because of all their abominations which they have
committed.
30 (Isa 29:13; 58:2) As for you, son of man, the sons of your people
are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of the houses;
and they speak to one another, each saying to his brother,
"Come now, and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord."
31 (Ps 78:36-37; Isa 29:13) They come to you as people come, and they sit
before you as My people, and they hear your words; but they will not do them.
For they do the lustful desires in their mouth, and their heart goes after
their covetousness.
32 (Mk 6:20) You are to them as a sensual song of one who has a pleasant
voice and can play well on an instrument. For they hear your words,
but they do not do them.
33 (Jer 28:9; Eze 2:5) When this comes to pass, and it is coming to pass,
then shall they know that a prophet has been among them.
2) Our Daily Bread for 5 September 2021
https://odb.org/CA/2021/09/05/help-from-the-holy-spirit
Entitled Help from the Holy Spirit
Jeremiah 3:11-15,22
God Invites Repentance
11 (Eze 16:51-52; 23:11) The Lord said to me: Backsliding Israel has proved
herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
12 (Ps 86:15; Eze 33:11) Go and proclaim these words toward the north,
and say:
Return, backsliding Israel, says the Lord,
and I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am merciful, says the Lord,
and I will not keep anger forever.
13 (Dt 12:2; 30:1-3) Only acknowledge your iniquity,
that you have transgressed against the Lord your God
and have scattered your ways to the strangers
under every green tree,
and you have not obeyed My voice,
says the Lord.
14 (Isa 54:5; Jer 31:32) Return, O backsliding sons, says the Lord.
For I am married to you. And I will take you, one from a city
and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.
15 (Ac 20:28; Jer 23:4) And I will give you shepherds according to My heart,
who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
22 (Hos 14:4) Return, O backsliding sons,
and I will heal your backslidings.
"We come to You;
for You are the Lord our God."
Today's Scripture & Insight:
While my classmates and I used to skip the occasional lecture in university,
everyone always made sure to attend Professor Chris' lecture the week before
the year-end exams. That was when he would unfailingly drop big hints
about the exam questions he'd set.
I always wondered why he did that, until I realized that Prof. Chris
genuinely wanted us to do well. He had high standards,
but he would help us meet them. All we had to do was show up
and listen so we could prepare properly.
It struck me that God is like that too. God can't compromise His standards,
but because He deeply desires us to be like He is, He's given us
the Holy Spirit to help us meet those standards.
In Jeremiah 3:11-14, God urged unfaithful Israel to acknowledge their guilt
and return to Him. But knowing how stubborn and weak they were, He would
help them. He promised to cure their backsliding ways (v. 22),
and He sent shepherds to teach and guide them (v. 15).
How comforting it is to know that no matter how big the sin we're trapped in
or how far we've turned from God, He’s ready to heal us of our faithlessness!
All we need to do is to acknowledge our wrong ways and allow His Holy Spirit
to begin changing our hearts.
By: Leslie Koh
Reflect & Pray
Where do you struggle to follow God faithfully and obediently?
How can you ask God to heal you and help you?
Loving God, thank You for Your merciful love that enables me to be holy
like You are. Please help me to let Your Spirit heal me of my faithlessness
and transform my heart.
Read Filled with the Spirit at https://www.DiscoverySeries.org/Q0301 .
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 1 Hard Bargain
Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray,
believe that you will receive them, and you will have them.
"I've been praying." Jennifer declared confidently. " I told God I'd give him
a tithe of that $5000000 when I win the sweepstakes."
Her friend Cindi laughed. "Well, then, you don't have a chance. I told him
I'd give him half!"
Can we, as in Mark 11:24 seems to imply , pray for anything, absolutely
anything, and expect that the Lord will come through? Can we pray with
assurance for new cars, mink coats, or trips to the Caribbean? The verse
seems to be a troublesome one, especially when we try it and our prayers
aren't answered in the way we expected.
But seen in context, Mark 11:24 gives us a much broader picture of the
kind of prayer Jesus meant. The verse appears in the framework of
Jesus' ministry - cleansing the temple, correcting the Pharisees,
commanding forgiveness, discussing his authority. The condition for
the fulfillment of Mark 11:24, if Jesus' actions arew any indication,
is fulfilling the will and purpose of God.
Such a condition for powerful prayers involves much more than attaching
am "If it be Thy will" cluase onton the end of our prayers. We eed to know
God's will and walk in it, seeking his kingdom first, and drawing close to
him. Then , as our hearts are right with him, what we ask in prayer
is likely to be congruent with the mind and purposes of Chirst. We are
less likely to pray selfishly, and more likely to sahre God's priorities,
as we get to know him. And as we deepen in our knowledge of him,
as his will becomes our will, his promise for answered prayer takes
on new dimensions.
Application
a) What is the connection betweeen know God's will and praying effectively?
b) What changes need to take place in my life
so that I might pray with greater power?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
3 John 2
2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be
in good health, even as your soul is well.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Inexhaustible Strength
Is 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and assert, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my justice escapes the notice of my God"?
28 (Ps 147:5; Ge 21:33; Isa 57:15) Have you not known?
Have you not heard,
that the everlasting God, the Lord,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not faint, nor is He weary?
His understanding is inscrutable.
29 (Isa 41:10) He gives power to the faint,
and to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 (Isa 9:17) Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall,
31 (2Co 4:16; Ps 103:5; Ex 19:4) but those who wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
and they shall walk and not faint.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Nova Scotia
Total population 942700
Muslim population (est.) 14629
With 6 of the Nova Scotia's 10 universities located in Halifax, there is
a high concentration of Muslin international students in the area,
a harvest field in itself.
Pray for Nova Scotoa and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Halifax is the centre of Muslim activity for the Province of Nova Scotia
with at least 10 Islamic centres (mosques) and musallas
(prayer locations, especially for Friday prayer). And there are other mosques
in Chebucto, Kearney Lake, Dartmouth, Bedford and Truto.
Though the original community of Muslims was primarily composed of
newcomers from Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, continued immigration
has further diversified this community. Anf it is said thay Arabic
is the second most spoken language in Halifax.
while conservative estimates place the number of Muslims at almost 15000
in 2014, the Imama of a primary Halifax mosque estimates their population
somewhere between 25000 to 30000.
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 12 They were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other,
"What does this mean?"
13 (1Co 14:23) Others mocking said, "These men are full of new wine."
Peter's Speech at Pentecost
14 (Ac 1:26) But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and said to them, "Men of Judea and all you who dwell in Jerusalem,
let this be known to you, and listen to my words.
15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose,
since it is the third hour of the day.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 (Isa 44:3; Ac 10:45) 'In the last days it shall be,' says God,
'that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.'
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, atheists, secular humanists, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
5th Day of the Month
a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples, that the Lord will draw them to Himself
(PS 145:13-18
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
14 The Lord upholds all who fall,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon You,
and You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
and loving in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,
to all who call upon Him in truth.
)
b) Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness
( ps 139:24 and see if there is any rebellious way in me,
and lead me in the ancient way.
1: John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord to know what His life plan is for you.
Pray to the Lord and Thank Him for His Justice.
Pray to the Lord "Loving God, thank You for Your merciful love that enables me to be holy
like You are. Please help me to let Your Spirit heal me of my faithlessness
and transform my heart."
Pray to the Lord and seek the Lord's will .
Pray to the Lord and ask Him for physically and spiritual wellness.
Pray to the Lord to depend on Him for strength.
Pray for Nova Scotia and her Muslim populations
- in and around Halifax and other cities
- on university campuses
- for new workers among Muslims
- for pastors and churches to be bold in vision, passion and outreach
to Muslims in their areas.
- for Muslims who are searching for a better way to find a Christian friend
to share Jesus with and disciple them
- for Muslim-background believers to be both wise and bold in sharing their
new faith in Jesus with other Muslims
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have God's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Pray for First Nation peoples of your country,
that the Lord will draw them to Himself.
Pray for the Lord to search your life , reveal anything offensive
and cleanse you from unrighteousness.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.