Neighbor Prayer Update

“Why do the nations rage…?”
(Acts 4, Psalm 2)

When Peter and John prayed this prayer, in Acts 4, they were quoting the Psalmist.    In both cases (Psalms and Acts), the people of God find themselves in tumultuous times, undergoing persecution.   And in both cases, they resort to PRAYER…allowing us a glimpse of how God responds to the turmoil of nations:   1.) His desire is for the nations to be His treasured possession, living under His rule, experiencing His peace;  2.) His desire is for His people to remain boldly committed to the task of proclaiming and living according to the Kingdom values of love and peace.   Let us too pray, in the midst of all the world’s unrest, that God’s people will continue to to “speak (God’s) word with great boldness.…(and that God would) stretch out (His) hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of (His) holy servant Jesus.”

1.  Pray for peace and reconciliation in the city of Urumqi, in China’s far-west Xinjiang region.   This has been a week of violence caused by ethnic tensions between the Uyghurs and members of China’s Han majority.  Hundreds were killed and wounded, with many others imprisoned.   May believers (from both sides) in this region be effective peacemakers, actively displaying the power of Christ’s love.

2.  Lift up believers in Iran, in the midst of recent political unrest, that they remain focused on their responsibilities as Kingdom citizens.  May they be used as instruments to draw their frustrated, disillusioned countrymen into God’s Kingdom.

3.  Praise God for the current peaceful elections in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority nation.    Pray for the newly elected leaders that they will be used by God to lead this nation with righteousness and justice, ensuring a climate where believers can boldly express their faith and disciple others to follow Christ.

4.  Praise God also for recent positive reports from workers in a creative area.

• “This month, in 4 different locations, neighbors are turning to the Lord, 4-6 in each place.  Some have just been baptized, some have recently decided to take that step.  Please pray for these new believers.”
• “A neighboring young man, “Mark,” who gives religious teaching to children, is viewed as a blossoming leader in his religious community.  But he is also showing openness to salvation by faith in Christ.”

5.  Pray for Ann and her friend M as they begin to spend more time together discussing faith issues.   M has recently confided in Ann that her boys need some better religious teaching, since they have begun to lie and steal.   M has asked if Ann would lead her boys in a Bible study!   Just today, Ann gave her an appropriate Bible for the boys.  Praise God for this open door.  May God grant wisdom to Ann and her family as they instruct these young boys in God’s Word, and may the boys have a hunger to learn.