Prayer Fuel

Pray as the Lord leads you as you read today’s verse

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) ESV

Tunisian testimony

In December, I began to investigate Christianity because I want to know the God of the Christians and experience His love. I have started talking to my two children about Christ, but I am deeply afraid of my husband. He is extremely violent, and I fear he would throw me out of the house and take my children if he found out. I long to meet other believers, receive a Bible, and be baptized, but I am scared to take these steps. Please pray that God will transform my husband’s heart, especially through a dream, and that I will soon connect with other Christians and grow in my faith.

Praying with insight

The most common greeting across the Muslim world is Salam (Peace). Hearts long for peace and even fight for peace, but peace is only found through the blood of Jesus. Through the Son, God reconciled “to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20 ESV) Those who make peace, who bring the message of reconciliation, are blessed and take after their Father. Pray that God’s children would go to the anxious and the fearful and be peacemakers by bringing the gospel. God is the great reconciler.

For believers

It was just a Christian women’s craft party, but the tension was palpable. It always was when she was there. “I’ve got to do better than this,” Sonia told herself as she felt hot blood rush to her face. Oh mercy, she was coming right for her from across the room. “Salam (peace),” Sonia could barely eke out the words, her heart beating rapidly. “Salam, my Sister!” Miriam replied, coming in for the standard kiss-on-the-cheek greetings. Was this for real? Sonia had worked so hard to forgive her Sister in Christ. There weren’t many single men in the small underground fellowship they were a part of, and it had already been two years since the man she thought she’d marry decided to go for Miriam instead. She ran to the bathroom to collect herself and looked squarely into the mirror: “I have forgiven her. I belong to Jesus. She belongs to Jesus. I have shut the door on my feelings of betrayal. I CAN DO THIS.” She splashed water on her face, trying not to let her tasteful makeup run out of place. She smiled at Miriam, and they sat down to share a hot glue gun together, adhering ribbon onto a candle holder…the true Light of the World, the Prince of Peace, was at work, “So how are you doing, my Sister?”

For the lost

“You don’t know the REAL Hesna,” Ali spat his sister’s name out of his mouth. His face clouded over as he recalled their terrible fight after their parents passed away, much too young, leaving property and possessions for them to divide up. The subject of inheritance commonly causes tension, often irreparable rifts between family members. But Ali and Hesna were grown now: their children teenagers, living literally on top of one another in separate but attached apartments, yet not speaking to each other, nor each others’ children for 11 YEARS. They walked in and out of the same garden gate, hearing ‘Eid Miladoun Saaid (Happy Birthday)’ sung for nieces and nephews dozens of times, but utterly refusing to sit together for honest conversation, to make peace.

For the church

Pray that the “God of peace would soon crush Satan” (Romans 16:20) and bring eternal peace. Satan is the accuser, the liar, the one who whispers words of anxiousness and fear, who says that God doesn’t care. Pray that believers would “calm and quiet their souls like a weaned child with his mother.” (Psalm 131:2) Ask them to hope in the Lord, live in peace, and be peace bringers.

For areas of influence

Pray for places of community in Tunisia. Pray for sports clubs to:

• be places where Christians live out the peace of Christ in winsome ways.
• be places where Christians can build relationships with Muslims and model peacemaking in how they resolve conflict on a team.
• be places where believers intentionally join to give opportunities for Muslims to “taste and see” the Kingdom.

Declaration of the scripture

When movements to Christ happen among a people group, everything gets multiplied: churches, disciples, obedience, leaders, intercessors, disciple-makers, and…peace.

We unite and declare, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) for this precious people.

Pray as God leads as you watch this video from Tunisia