Day 17: Asia

30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening

Verses for contemplation: Isaiah 49:1-13

More than 5 billion people live on this massive continent, among them thousands of unreached people groups. In fact, two countries in this region have populations of over a billion each: India, which also has a whopping 2,135 UPGs, and China, clocking in at 443 UPGs. Just to get an idea of the lostness, check out our worldwide map of unreached peoples and note how many countries in this region sit at the top of the list with hundreds, even thousands of people groups that have no access to the Gospel.

Restrictive governments, as well as Muslim, Hindu and tribal extremists wage a brutal war on Christians throughout this region. North Korea, which ranks #1 on the World Watchlist of most dangerous countries for Christians, has held that position far too long. See the red teardrops on the map below for the other countries in Asia where Christians risk all to follow Jesus.

The unrest throughout this region includes hunger, terrorism, oppression, genocides and devastating wars for years on end, such as those in Myanmar (since 1948) and Yemen (since 2014). Of course, the newest war between Israel and the Islamic Hamas, Houthi and Hezbollah terrorist groups has been at the forefront of the news. (See our Israel-Gaza page for updates.)

• This weekend, one of the most dangerous terrorists in the world, Abdallah Maki Mosleh al-Rifai, the fugitive head of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, died in a joint operation between Iraqi intelligence, the Kurdish regional government and the U.S.
• In Pakistan last week, members of the Baloch Liberation Army hijacked a train in Balochestan province, taking around 400 passengers hostage and killing 26. Security forces fought against them, killing 33 BLA terrorists and freeing the hostages.
• In Syria, more than 1,400 civilians, mostly Alawites, were massacred by gunmen loyal to the Sunni Muslim-led government that deposed the cruel Alawite president Bashar al-Assad.

Pray God will

• Grow believers strong in faith.
• Guard them from persecution.
• Help them forgive their persecutors.
• Anoint them to share the Gospel.
• Bring an end to oppression, violence and war.
• Give the lost a hunger for Him.
• Perform signs and miracles and wonders to turn all eyes to Him.
• Make the way for the Word to be translated into every language, available to every person.
• Visit the lost in their dreams, and bring Christians to them in person or on the internet who will share the Gospel with them in a way they can easily understand

Prayer starter:

Father, thank You because Your church is growing in Asia. As Muslims experience horrific violence at the hand of fellow Muslims, You are awakening in them a hunger for Truth. We ask You for more. Move Your Spirit in mighty ways, changing hearts and planting churches all throughout every nation. Protect the innocent. Rescue those in danger. Bring evildoers to their knees in repentance. Set free those who have been taken captive or are in prison for their faith. Whenever someone cries out to You, answer them, Lord. Guard them from danger. Make the way for their escape. Give the lost dreams and visions to point them to salvation. Lead them to Christian websites and radio broadcasts that proclaim the Gospel. Connect them with underground churches and loving Christians. Please, Father, don’t let even one more person die without hearing Your Good News. Make a way for the Bible to be translated into every language. Raise up Christians who will cross borders and barriers to boldly share with those who have never heard. Shield every believer and their family. Give them courage to stand strong in faith, hope and love. Empower them to forgive their persecutors. Bless them abundantly so they can bless those around them and love them into Your arms. Perform miracles and wonders to draw all people to You. Awaken every heart all throughout Asia to the wonders of Your love.

Parallel Prayer: Our 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening coincides with Ramadan. March 1-30, Muslims throughout the world are fasting and seeking God right now. Let’s pray they find Him! 

Lord, almost 870 million Muslims are scattered throughout Asian countries. As they fast for Ramadan, seeking to know You in powerful ways, answer their heart’s cry. Come and meet them in their dreams. Show them who You truly are. Jesus, stand before them in visions, telling them Your way of salvation. Where imams reach for the Quran, hand them a Bible instead and open it to just the passage they need to read to at last understand Your sacrifice. Bring Muslims to You by the millions all across the Middle East, the Stans, South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and even in Russia. Great and mighty God, Christians are violently persecuted in most of these countries by Muslims. Please shelter Your followers from harm, and turn back every evildoer. In fact, turn them completely around. To choose You.

Dinner and a Prayer: Each day during these 30 days, we will share with you ideas for special family prayer times, including a suggested menu to go with that day’s prayer theme. Today’s suggestions:

Search the internet to choose recipes from Asian countries. Invite your family to research some of these countries and find reasons why so many unreached people groups in this region still have not heard about Jesus. Menu suggestions: mujadara (Jordanian rice and lentils), Armenian stuffed eggplant, stir-fried chicken and broccoli (China), Indonesian sweet sticky rice

As you research today’s region of the world for prayer, type in a country name or other subject here in our search engine and see where God leads you.

Search

You can also go to Joshua Project to discover unreached peoples, and Open Doors and Voice of the Martyrs to see where and how Christians are persecuted.

If you would like to plan ahead for international meals, see the “Dinner and a Prayer” section at the bottom of our 30 Days page or in the back of your 30 Days of Prayer for Global Awakening, Volume 2, book.

For suggestions on how to have an even fuller experience this coming month, check out our 30 Days and So You Think You Can’t Fast pages here at the Prayer Wall.

If you would like deep devotional workbooks for individual or group Bible study on recognizing God’s voice, walking in God’s Spirit and fighting for what matters most, look for A Strong and Courageous Life (Chinese/English), Dare to Become a Kingdom Culture Leader and other powerful resources for missionaries and leaders at MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com.

More books for all ages from MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com:

Mikaela Vincent and her husband are missionaries who live by faith, trusting in God to provide for their needs as they pray for and share Christ with the nations. If you would like to help their ministry through giving a donation, shopping at Mikaela’s online bookstore, praying for them or inviting them to speak at your church, retreat or other event, click the buttons below:

Any proceeds this author receives from the sale of the deep devotional Bible studies and other MoreThanAConquerorBooks.com books mentioned in this post go to shining Christ’s light in the darkness and seeing the nations come to Him. 

Thank you for your support! If you have any questions or want to help with this ministry, please  contact Mikaela.