Pray for the Light of Power

I received this prayer request from David and Yulia today,

Across from me in the driver’s seat sat Rini, an Muslim who was keeping the month long fast of Ramadan. From August 22 until September 20 he would eat nothing, and drink nothing from sun up to sun down. As I asked about him and his family, we realized we both had two kids about the same age. Of course, all of this was happening in his local language, being one of the few foreigners he had ever met who spoke his language.

As we wound through the tall mountains of the countryside, I commented on the historical importance of his country to what I believe. I said, “The person [the apostle Paul] who wrote almost half of the New Testament walked through these mountains on the “Via Egnatia” and crossed that river we see below us.”

After asking Rini about the fast of Ramadan, I asked, “What motivates you to do this?” Rini replied, “Allah is the great judge. If I do not keep the fast I will be judged.” I replied, “So you are motivated by fear of Allah?” Rini nodded in agreement. I then asked, “Would you like to know what motivates me to do good?” Again he nodded.

“I try to be motivated by love. This motivation is a result of what God did for me. You see, I was doing wrong, rightly deserving judgment, God sent his son, Jesus, to give his life for me… God sent His Son to take the judgment for all my wrong doing… so Rini, I love God and others because God first loved me!” As we continued talking I could see that he was beginning to understand.

For Muslims like Rini, the last week of Ramadan is a time of deep, earnest seeking of Allah. This time is called “The Night of Power.” Sometimes Muslims will stay up all night praying for a visitation (a dream) from the Prophet Muhammed. It is also at this time that many Muslims actually become disappointed in their religion, and sometimes the message of the good news of Jesus Christ gets through (sometimes in very dramatic ways!).

Please pray with Yulia and I for Rini and his family that this “Night of Power” (Sept. 15-20) would become the light of power… the power of a heart set free to love because of what Jesus Christ did for Rini and his family!! Please join us in praying for five minutes at dusk for the next five days for Rini, Muslims in Eastern Europe, Macedonia, and around the world.