Call2Prayer: Ramadan is over, but God is still working - Friday 6th May 2022
/The period of Ramadan came to an end last weekend, with days of fervent prayer and fasting ending in Eid-al-Fitr celebrations across the world as the new crescent moon was sighted on 2nd May. Many nations across the Middle East and North Africa have just had a week of public holiday. If you’ve been following our Ramadan Prayer Guide, I hope that you have found praying with us over the past few weeks inspiring and enlightening, as we have interceded for many different groups across the Middle East and embraced important aspects of the surrounding culture. However, the end of Ramadan should not put a stop to our prayers. If anything, we should be praying even more zealously for God’s Spirit to be at work in individuals and communities.
For many Muslims across the region and wider, this week will have been among first opportunities since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic that gathering with family and friends in celebratory feasting has been possible. However, Eid-al-Fitr landed at a difficult time for many others, as celebrations have been blighted by conflict and the knock-on economic hardships resulting from the Ukraine war.
Ramadan itself can also be a time of many mixed emotions, both for those practising and for those living in nations where significant societal shifts take place to accommodate periods of fasting. For some, Ramadan will have been a positive experience, as more time is spent in prayer and gathering in communities for Iftar meals at dusk. For others, the expectations around Ramadan will have brought up more negative feelings; guilt, shame, or perhaps emptiness or discontent.
We do not know the hearts and minds of individuals, but the Spirit does. We do not know what seeds may have been sown in the region over the past few weeks, but the Spirit does. However, we do know that the enemy is eager to sabotage what He has started. As we bear all of these things in mind, let us lift up the region and people in prayer at this time.
Prayer Points
For those suffering in many different ways from the impact of conflict and economic hardship. We pray for the Lord’s grace and favour to be upon them, and that He might reveal Himself as the only true source of life, light and hope for all.
For those questioning faith, God, and themselves, whether they have been observing Ramadan or not. We pray for opportunities and freedom for them to explore what they believe and why. We pray for encounters with the Gospel of Jesus, particularly through media source in the Middle East and areas where Christian material is restricted. We pray that the Holy Spirit would be personally at work in these individuals.
For those suffering with feelings of guilt or shame for having broken fasts or been unable to complete the period of fasting. May they be personally touched and moved by the God of all grace, who died on a cross to take away our shame and remove the need for us to try and earn His favour.
For those having faithfully observed Ramadan, but found themselves left dissatisfied or unfulfilled. We pray also for opportunities for them to explore what they believe, and for the Holy Spirit to be ministering to them in miraculous ways.
For the Lord’s work in the Middle East to prevail, grow and triumph over the enemy’s will to destroy.
