Thanks for praying and fasting with us this Wednesday, September 1.

I just returned from a successful trip to India where we taught in colleges and other schools. We saw over 1,000 engineering students raise their hands to pray to invite Jesus to be their Lord! We also met with 29 of our 30 national India evangelists.

On my flight home I had a layover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As we got ready to land, the stewardess announced that this was the month of Ramadan, and that no one was allowed to eat or drink anything in a public area during daylight hours, as this was the Muslims time to fast and pray.

I met with two pastors who took me to Dubai’s most popular shopping mall. The entrance to the Food Court had been curtained off. The only acceptable way to eat was to enter the curtains, order your food, and then take your food behind some other barriers so no one else would be distracted from their fasting and praying. All other restaurants in the mall were vacant. They pray five times/day for nine minutes each time their ‘call to prayer’ sounds from the local mosque.

As a Christian, what is your prayer and fasting ritual? We can certainly learn about the discipline of prayer and fasting from our Muslim friends. Fasting was a common discipline in the Scriptures.

Let’s pray for ourselves.

Dear Lord,

Teach us that discipline is our friend. Help us to heed Your reminder that certain things only happen when we pray and fast. Remind us that You call us to ‘present our bodies a living sacrifice’ (Romans 12:1).

Let’s pray for our cities.

Dear Lord,

We declare that “JESUS CHRIST IS LORD OVER OUR CITY AND OUR COUNTRY.” We declare that ‘no weapon formed against us shall prosper.’ We declare that ‘righteousness exalts a nation.’ Help us to influence our communities through our actions and words. In these trying times, open peoples’ hearts to Your love.

Let’s pray for the global advance of the gospel.

Dear Lord,

We pray for the 30 national evangelists in India who are a part of the Oasis World Ministries team. We ask You would empower, protect and provide for them and their families as they take the gospel to unreached areas of rural India. Let them see great and lasting fruit for Your glory alone. In Jesus’ name we ask this in confidence, amen.