Muslims and followers of Jesus often use the same Arabic word for “prayer”. The meanings of that word, however, could not be more different. Islamic salat “prayer” describes the memorized recitations that Muslims must speak and the motions they must go through five times a day. Kingdom “prayer” describes two-directional conversation with God where followers of Jesus humbly approach the throne of grace with confidence to present requests and praise, they listen to God, and are thus transformed. Today we ask for Muslims of the Malay people to have the opportunity to be prayed for by a disciple of Jesus and for them to have a divine encounter with God through it.
Each of us who comes to Christ must repent of and renounce every pact, promise, or identity we held before faith in Christ. Join us in praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ from a Muslim background as they repent of their former identity as Muslims. This prayer is inspired by chapter 7 and 8 of Liberty to the Captives by Mark Durie
We can consider it a joy to suffer in Christ’s name. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds…” (James 1:2).
Pray for those following Christ of the Malay people to renounce the lie that suffering for the sake of Christ is shameful.
“The Lord says: ‘Turn to me now while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in grief; tear your hearts instead.’ Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? He might turn and leave behind a blessing instead of a curse. Therefore, announce a solemn assembly; call the people together to fast and pray” (Joel 2, selections).
Pray for a spirit of prayer, fasting, and repentance to fall on the believers of the Malay people.
Pray for a seriousness and urgency among believers.
Pray that God would respond to the prayers the Malay world and that he send blessings on them.
O Father! We come to you poor in spirit, asking…imploring…begging you for intervention in this nation and at this time. We pray, Lord, that you would raise up intercessors, people willing to stand in the gap for the Malay world. Raise up your prayer-warriors, and mobilize the believers to pray.
May we pray instead of staying busy.
May we pray instead of scheduling more activities.
May we pray instead of filling up our time.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Capture our hearts again. And make the Malay world a nation of sacrificial, extraordinary prayer and fasting.
As Malay people encounter Jesus sometimes they believe they must change who they are to conform to the Christian world. Instead, the Good News offers new life in Jesus that redeems their Malay identity and allows them to flourish and thrive with the abundant life Jesus promises. 1 Corinthians 7:20, John 10:10
Use these resources to help pray specifically each day.
Thank the Lord for the love He has given you for the people the Malay world as you prayed for them to encounter Christ this Ramadan. Pray for Him to complete the good work he has begun of the Malay people. Take time to listen to next steps God would have you take on behalf of the people the Malay world.
ReadIn many parts of the Muslim world, Islam is passed down more through tradition, family, and society than in formal education. Prayer, fasting, and going on the Hajj are mostly done in a communal context. Today we pray in faith for our brothers and sisters of the Malay people to find community and family in your Church. We pray they would have vision for sharing what they are learning about Christ in their community, families, and networks.
ReadLast night many Muslims celebrated the "Night of Power" hoping that God would show up miraculously to change their circumstances (health, financial, relational, etc.). We continue to pray that they would encounter Jesus who already miraculously "showed up" as the Word who became flesh to change their current realities and eternity through His life, death, and resurrection.
ReadOn or around the 27th night of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the "Night of Power" as a special time that their prayers and good deeds count for more. They believe their chance of getting their prayers answered and miracles done are increased on this night. Pray for multitudes of Muslims from the Malay world to encounter Jesus tonight in a dream or vision.
ReadThe month of Ramadan is known as ‘the month of repentance,’ and so as we pray for a gospel movement to transform this nation, let us cry out for God’s Kingdom to come, for a spirit of repentance to fall on the peoples living of the Malay people, whether they are Sunnis, Shiite, Sufi, or Christians from a Muslim background; rich and poor, young and old, male and female.
ReadMuslims are encouraged to think about the poor during the month of Ramadan, to sympathize with them, and to make donations. Jesus loved the poor and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God" (Luke 6:20). Pray for Muslims of the Malay people to encounter this radical teaching and to wrestle with His command to not just donate to the poor, but to know that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor.
ReadIslam calls Jesus the "Word of God" but strongly denies that He is God. Pray for Muslims of the Malay people to meditate on the thought that Jesus is the "Word of God". John 1 illustrates the beautiful reality that, "the Word was with God, and the Word was God." May Muslims of the Malay people be prompted to research this online and find John 1. Pray for their hearts be softened as they read.
ReadMuslims (and all people, really) care deeply about their outward appearance or reputation in the community. But Jesus cares about the person's heart. Religion can change outward behavior but can't change inward attitudes—only the Spirit of God can do that. Pray for the people the Malay world to be convicted about their need for a clean heart and to seek out Jesus' teachings on the topic.
ReadToday many Christians celebrate Easter: the resurrection of Jesus from the grave. Muslims deny this fact. "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:17). Pray for Muslims of the Malay people to be convicted of the reality that they are still in their sins and that only God Himself can provide a solution for that – the cross of Christ.
ReadIslam teaches that deception under certain circumstances is acceptable and the effects of this teaching breeds mistrust—of God and of others. But the Bible tells us "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator" (Colossians 3:9-10). Pray for people of the Malay people to be people who pursue truth and feel conviction about deceiving others.
ReadThe Islamic doctrine of abrogation means that some verses in the Quran can be "canceled out" by later verses. This is contrary to the unchanging nature of God in the Bible. "Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…" (Hebrews 6:17–19) Today we pray for people of the Malay people to see the unchanging nature of God, that it is impossible for him to lie, and to make him the anchor for their souls.
ReadThere is a hadith (teaching) in Islam that says, "Be good to your mother, Paradise is under her feet." This positive teaching is often negatively used to prevent Muslims from questioning or rejecting the religion of their parents. Today, we pray for Muslims of the Malay people to have courage from God to honor their parents, but not blindly follow their religion and to instead pursue Truth.
ReadThe primary way Islam is growing globally is through birth rate. The primary way Christianity is growing globally is through movements of the Gospel. Pray for these movements to flow through the Malay world and all Muslim lands.
ReadThere are many teachings in Islam that advocate the use of the sword (killing) to advance their religion. The teachings of Jesus calls us to surrender to the sword (martyrdom) to advance His Kingdom. Pray for Muslims of the Malay people to wrestle with this contrast and for their hearts to be softened to Christ.
ReadMany Muslims when faced with difficult questions about their religion fall back on the claim that God is unknowable. In Christianity, though we cannot fathom the fullness of who God is, we do believe that God revealed Himself to us in Christ and wants to be known by us. Today we pray for Muslims of the Malay people to encounter God by knowing Christ.
ReadThere are many teachings in Islam that allow for murder, enslavement, rape, and abuse of women. Today we pray for both men and women of the Malay people to see the value of women, who are created by God as His image bearers as well.
ReadIslam teaches that women cannot fast or pray when they are menstruating. We thank God that this is not a reality for us in Christ. Pray for women of the Malay people today who cannot fast because they are menstruating and will have to make up this day of fasting later in the year by themselves. Pray for their hearts to be softened to a God who welcomes them into His presence any day of the year because of Christ's blood on the cross.
ReadIslam teaches that Muslims are born into Islam, inheriting the religion of their parents. Christianity teaches the opposite, each person must make a personal decision to follow Christ and His teachings. Today we pray into this issue and ask for God to give grace to Muslims of the Malay people to question this teaching that they inherited their religion from their parents.
ReadIn Islam, it is a sin to doubt. It leaves many Muslims with fear of eternal damnation if they question anything they have been taught about religion. Pray today for Muslims of the Malay people to seek the true God who is big enough for our questions and doubts.
ReadIn Islam God has 99 names–such as All-Merciful, The Beneficent, The Source of Peace–but none of those names is Love. Father God, who reveals yourself as the God of Love throughout the Bible, please reveal yourself to Muslims of the Malay people with your true nature.
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