Saturday, March 20th, 2010

How to Pray Creatively for Muslims during Ramadan – some ideas

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Suggestions and ideas for personal and group prayer.

These are some creative prayer ideas and tips on how to use the 30-Days Muslim World Prayer Guide materials in a group or for your personal prayer time.

Organizing group prayers

You can use these materials to pray creatively by yourself in your own prayer times, and also to join with groups of others to pray together. We would encourage you to find creative ways to involve as many people as possible with you in this prayer focus. Jesus gave some special promises of blessing for Christians who come together to pray and agree as a group.

You could organise some weekly or twice weekly meetings over the 30 day Ramadan period with your church, your youth group, your committee or leaders’ meetings, your women’s meetings, home Bible studies, cell groups, children’s groups; in fact, any occasion when your Christian friends and associates meet together.

A Social Occasion

Take a social occasion and turn it into a prayer event as well. Have others join with you in a special meal using the prayer topic for that day. Find out all you can about that particular culture – including food and dress, music, sports, etc.

Facilitator

It is helpful if one person is chosen as the leader/facilitator of the group for that time of prayer. This person can give direction and cohesion to the prayer time, and assist the group in using the following guidelines.

Focus

As you pray through the Prayer Guide that are suggested for each day, ask and expect the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer, revealing certain areas of detail and specific focus for you to pay particular attention to (Romans 8:26).

Take notes and keep a journal of your prayer times. Particularly note any Scriptures that God may prompt you to read concerning that day’s topic.

It is helpful if the group focuses its prayers for one subject area at a time, rather than chopping and changing all over the place. Each person should wait before moving on to a different topic, until every person has been able to pray out their prayers over the current subject area (1Corinthians 14:40). Make sure that all have an opportunity to pray for that area or need if they want to.

Be Creative

Look for ways to make your times of prayer varied and interesting. God is infinitely creative, and has made us in His image, so we can expect creative ideas and prayers to flow as we seek Him. For example, using a map or reading out a short article on a particular country or need related to the day’s prayer theme can add interest and spark new ideas of needs to pray for. Photographs and pictures, maps or even radio, television and video documentaries can do the same.

Day 27

“The Night of Power” on Day 27 is a strategic night of prayer. Consider setting aside this night for an all night prayer time with your church or mission group.

Believe

Let us believe God for an outpouring of His Spirit on our Muslim neighbours worldwide. Let us pray and believe for the fulfilment of Revelation 7:9, that every group, including the peoples of Islam, will be represented before the throne of God on that final day.

Tools

Ideas for Praying in Groups – Want to pray with a group once per week or even one day to cover the whole 30 days of Ramadan? Here is a flexible idea to pray 30, 15, 5 or 3 minutes in groups for all the material. That breaks down to 15, 7.5, 2.5 or just 1.5 hour slots – great for churches!

Downloads

  • download the Praying in Groups Idea (pray_in_groups_events.pdf [105 KB])
  • download the Group Prayer Schedule (pray_group_sample_schedule.pdf [26 KB])
  • Are Your Prayers On Target? A Guide to Victorious Prayer? – A two page brochure filled with biblical references about God’s joy to hear us pray. Designed by us to help encourage your faith when praying during Ramadan. (rk_prayerbrochure.pdf 162 KB)
  • When You Fast … ” A Biblical Guide To Victorious Fasting – A two page brochure including practical tips, health pointers and many starting bible references to begin cross-referencing. Also designed by us to help encourage your faith. (rk_fastingbrochure.pdf 142KB)

[These require a newer version of the free Adobe Reader software.]

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