Ramadan Prayer Diary: Day 2, 12th March, 2024

Maiduguri, Borno State

“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16, NIV

Under the scorching afternoon sun, Mallam B toiled all day. Navigating around the fast-growing city of Maiduguri to get the next meal for his large family of fifteen. With the gradual return of relative peace, there is a great struggle for the limited resources in the ancient city as hundreds like Mallam B adjust to life after the trauma of years of insurgency. More pathetic is the fact that Mallam B, like many others, are on their way to a Christless eternity.

Maiduguri was a military outpost of the British Empire during the colonial period. Today, it is estimated to have a population of approximately two million people. Its residents are mostly Muslim including Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa, Bura, Marghi, and Fulani ethnic groups. There is also a considerable Christian population and are mainly indigenes of the southern part of the state or settlers from other states in the federation

Borno state, with Maiduguri as its capital, has had the highest casualties and losses from the Boko Haram insurgency which lasted for over a decade. This has brought about untold hardship, abject poverty and a low standard of living in the city. These years of insurgency described by the UN as the gravest humanitarian crisis of the 21 century is a testament to what man is capable of without the gospel. Maiduguri is in dire need of an army of radical intercessors who will commit to praying for the salvation of its people.

Please pray

  • Praise God for the return of peace to the land after several years of unrest.
  • Ask God to inspire compassion and a sense of responsibility among the believers towards their neighbours.
  • Ask God to make the people more open and receptive to the gospel.

Day 1, 11th March, 2024: Ramadan Prayer Diary

Auchi, Edo State

“One thing I have asked of the Lord and that I will seek. That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty (the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.” Psalm 27:4-5, Amplified Bible

 “I can’t imagine this beautiful edifice in Southern Nigeria”, said one of the co-travelers as we approached the Auchi – Ekpesa road. Momoh adjusted his jalabiya and said proudly “This is Arafat Mosque. It is built by the Muslim community of the town as a hallmark for Islamic worship. As you can see, it has got enough space both within and outside for worshipers to be comfortable while here for prayers. The flat land on the left axis is where the Eid prayers hold.” He added.

At the official commissioning of the Arafat Central Mosque two years ago, the Otaru of Auchi eulogised the holy sanctuary as being the opening chapter of the spiritual odyssey that brings about tranquility, progress, prosperity and help from Allah. The city and some of the adjoining communities have preserved Islam for many years with generations of adherents raised. Interestingly, Auchi hosts the single largest congregation of believers in Edo North. There is more to the odyssey emerging from this strategic geographical space. God is definitely up to something.

Please pray:

  • Pray for the emergence of movements of obedient disciples and witnesses to the saving and transformative power of Calvary from Auchi to the rest of its surrounding communities and the entire South-south region of Nigeria.
  • Pray that Muslims in Auchi and its environs will experience the peace found in Christ Jesus.
  • Ask that influential Muslim religious leaders in the town will have irresistible encounter with the Lord.

SHAFA’AT: RAMADAN PRAYER DIARY 2024

Shafa’at: Standing in the Gap for the Seeds of Ishmael

And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before you” (Genesis 17:18)

Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. It is a sacred time when Muslims devote themselves to God through fasting and denying themselves. God loves sincere seekers. He is ready to reveal Himself to those who will seek Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The problem is not about the intention it is more about the means. That is where you and I come in.

Shafa’at in Arabic means to “intercede”. In Islamic context, it is used to mean when a saint or someone devoted to God pleads with Him on behalf of a sinner. The holy man makes intercession for the one that is weak so that through his own right standing with God, the unrighteous can be saved from eternal damnation.

As we identify with our Muslim brothers and sisters during the month of Ramadan, we invite you to consider the salvation that you have received by grace and through faith in Christ Jesus. Can the Lord thus depend on you to stand in the gap till every eye that looks to the star and the crescent come into relationship with the Man of Calvary? For the Lord desires that all men be saved. A vital role of making the desire of the Lord to come to pass is to be on bent knees till the ends of the earth is reached with salvation available only in Christ Jesus.

Beginning from our Jerusalem (Nigeria), we have prayerfully considered strategic towns and cities wherein we trust the Lord to send the Light. The Ramadan prayer guide also features strategic Islamic phenomenon. Play a crucial role in God’s global purpose. Stand in the gap and tarry till the seeds of Ishmael embrace the Light.

 

WHY PRAY THIS RAMADAN AGAIN?

The testimony of Mallam Fitoka (Not real name).

My journey from Islam to Christianity is a testament of the unwavering grace of God and the transformative power of His love. Born into a devout Muslim family, my upbringing was steeped in the rich traditions and teachings of Islam. The rituals, prayers, and community were integral parts of my identity.

As a Fulani, my life revolved around the care of my cattle, and my commitment to Islam was unwavering. One day, while tending to my cows, I heard a voice speaking to me, urging me to follow Christ. At first, I dismissed it as a figment of my imagination, but the encounters persisted. Jesus seemed to be reaching out to me, calling me to follow Him.

Despite these repeated encounters, I resisted the call for a long time. The voice continued to speak to me, revealing the love and salvation found in Jesus Christ. Finally, unable to bear the weight of the conviction any longer, I humbled myself and asked, “What should I do?” In that moment, the Lord directed me to seek out a Christian who could tell me more about Him.

Guided by this divine instruction, I approached a Christian in my village and shared my experiences. This encounter marked the beginning of a profound transformation in my life. The person I met not only shared the message of Christ with me but also became instrumental in leading me to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

Embracing Christianity wasn’t without its challenges. Persecution and opposition arose from my own community as I declared my decision to follow Jesus. Faced with hostility, I made the difficult choice to leave my village and seek refuge in a safer place. It was there that I found a community of believers who took me in, nurturing my newfound faith.

In this new environment, I was taught more about God, and I underwent a period of discipleship that deepened my understanding of the Christian faith. Today, as I reflect on my journey, I am filled with gratitude for the transformative power of God’s love. I am now a joyful believer in Christ, living a life redeemed and guided by His grace.

I want to express that the prayers of faithful individuals played a crucial role in bringing me to this point. I encourage Christians to pray fervently for Muslims, especially during this sacred Ramadan season, that hearts may be opened, and lives transformed by the love of Christ. I am a living testimony to the fact that no one is beyond the reach of God’s mercy and grace.   

 

Understanding Ramadan: A Brief Overview

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. This sacred month holds deep significance in Islam as it commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Fasting (Sawm): During the daylight hours of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and certain worldly pleasures as an act of self-discipline and spiritual purification. The pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, and the evening meal, Iftar, mark the beginning and end of each day’s fast.

Prayer (Salat) and Reflection: Muslims engage in increased prayers, including Tarawih, special nightly prayers during Ramadan. This month encourages a heightened focus on self-reflection, repentance, and drawing closer to God.

Charity (Zakat and Sadaqah): Ramadan emphasizes acts of charity and kindness. Muslims are encouraged to give to those in need, exemplifying compassion and generosity. The obligatory almsgiving, Zakat, and voluntary donations, Sadaqah, play a vital role in supporting the less privilege.

Eid al-Fitr: The culmination of Ramadan is celebrated with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, a day of joy, gratitude, and community. Muslims come together, break their fast, offer special prayers, and share meals with family and friends.

Unity and Spiritual Growth: Ramadan is a time for self-discipline, empathy, and spiritual growth. It fosters a sense of unity among Muslims worldwide, as they collectively engage in the activities and share the common experience of fasting and prayer.

Fasting from dawn to dusk, Ramadan is a chance for Muslims to grow closer to God and develop empathy for those less fortunate. As we join our Muslim neighbours in observing Ramadan, may our prayers reflect a spirit of understanding, love, shared humanity, and most importantly, a response to the Lord’s desire to receive worship from all peoples.

You can download the Prayer Diary here

Salam!

Month of Missions Devotional – Thursday, February 29

Topic: Passion for working in Unity and Love

Text: Ephesians 4:11-13

Scientists discovered that human body is made up of several systems. Each of these systems is made up of several organs. Each organ comprises of tissues and each tissue is made up of several cells. Obviously, this is wisdom displayed by the Greatest Scientist – the Almighty God. God made each of these systems to function effectively and efficiently with each organ performing their unique but important functions. With the absence of the small intestine in the digestive system, the system cannot perform its function. God did it that way deliberately. This order has never changed since creation. All the organs of a system are unique and important to the overall achievement of every system.

One of the greatest systems that God created is the Church. The Church is a system designed and established by God for a special purpose – to make His name known among the nations so that He might receive glory from the nations (1 Peter 2:9). This system called the Church is made up of some organs as mentioned in the scripture under consideration – Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These are not just nomenclatures but assignments, ministries and responsibilities. All of these are members of the same Church and have the following as their common factors (1 Cor. 12:12-27).

  1. Mutual respect. The Church would be able to function effectively and efficiently, only when there is mutual respect among the members. The apostle should respect the evangelist, and the pastor should be respected by the prophet, for each other’s peculiarities. The mouth cannot function as the esophagus and vice versa. Without the former or the latter, or their equivalents in the digestive system, the system cannot work. The evangelist needs the pastor and vice versa for the system (the Church) to fulfill her purpose. The prophet needs the uniqueness of the teacher in the system. The absence of any of the organs creates deficiency in the system and affects the effectiveness of all other organs that made up the system.
  2. Mutual commitment. The weakness of one organ affects the strength of the other. When a man has heart failure, the life of all other organs is at stake. Each of these organs of the Church must be committed to one another’s wellbeing. The pastor should see the wellbeing of the teacher and the evangelist as his responsibility. The teacher and the prophet must know that the sickness of the pastor is their sickness – 1 Peter 3:8.
  3. Mutual support. There is no one organ that can function as a system. Even though it is generally believed that the apostle has the capacity to perform the functions of all others, his system can never be as effective and efficient as the collective effort of all the other ministries. Everyone is responsible for the support of each other. There must be mutual support as the case may be, among the various ministries that constitute the Church – Hebrew 10:24

The list of the common factors is inexhaustive. Nonetheless, the highest common factor of all these ministries; the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, is love. God’s kind of love must be resident in the Church system. This is the only way the Church can distinguish herself from the world – 1 John 3:11. This agape love compels each of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to be committed to one another, respect and support each other. When love is absent in the system among these ministries, it does not matter what we think we are doing for the Lord, it will be unacceptable to the Master who has commanded us to love one another (1 John 3:23, 4:7). No love, no ministry (1 Cor. 13). We will be more fruitful and fulfilled when love and respect characterize our ministries.

Prayer:

  • Pray that there will be mutual love and respect among the various organs of the Church.
  • Pray that the Lord will heal every suffering part of His Church and that the body of Christ may fulfill her divine mandate.

Azeez A. Oladapo

God’s Own Evangelistic Discipleship Ministry (GOEDM), Jalingo, Taraba State.

Month of Missions Devotional – Wednesday, February 28

Topic: Heart of Forbearance and Forgiveness in Love

Text: Colossians 3:12-14

 

Working together as a group is God’s strategy for the success of the gospel enterprise. No one ministry, agency or an individual can get the job done. Paul compares the church to the human body with different members working together to accomplish the same goal. Working together means coming together.

 

In today’s passage, Paul spoke to the Colossians about the state of their heart as the elect of God, saved by His grace and now together in fellowship and service of the Lord. He mentioned that for them to enjoy continuous fellowship and experience accelerated progress in their service to the Lord, they are to carry the right heart.

 

Paul mentioned bearing with one another and forgiving one another. This is so important for us today as we relate and work together. We know that it is not possible for us as humans to work together without stepping on one another’s toes, consciously or unconsciously. We are to be ready to patiently bear with each other and forgive each other when there is an offence. It is Christlike to forgive (Eph 4:32), and forgiveness opens the heart to the fullness of the love of God.

 

As believers we know that the regenerated heart chokes and suffers seriously when offence is retained in it. The flow of the Holy Spirit is hindered as the heart is weighed down by the load of offence. We get our liberty and healing when we forgive and let the offender go free. Forbearing and forgiving one another is more for our personal spiritual health and the healthiness of the group. We can perform maximally as individual or group if we are healthy and not sick at heart. The Apostle admonished the Colossian Christians to put on love above all. This is the most important of the Christian virtues, and it is like a “girdle” that ties all the other virtues together.

 

All of the spiritual qualities Paul has mentioned are aspects of true Christian love, as we see in 1 Cor 13. Love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit and the other virtues follow. Love expressing itself in bearing with and forgiving the offences of others is an indispensable quality in sustaining unity, relationship and collaboration that will yield accelerated success. We should, therefore, be ready and very willing to walk in forbearance and forgiveness so that we can see the results we long for; this year and the years ahead.

 

Prayer:

  • Ask the love of Christ to manifest in our lives in increasing measure.
  • Pray that we would bring God delight by living in love.

Pastor Dr. John Dolor

Zonal Chairman, South-South NEMA & General Overseer, Harvest-Time Christian Assembly Int’l, Warri

Month of Missions Devotional – Tuesday, February 27

Topic: The Challenge Before Us

Text: 2 Corinthians 13:1-14

Paul has done all he can to lead the false teachers, the critics, and those who are in sin to repent and turn back to the Lord. His final words as recorded in 2Cor. 13:1-14 include a warning, a prayer, a challenge, and a blessing.

Verse 11 carries the challenge which we will ponder upon.

“Finally, brothers, good-bye. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you” (NIV)

 

Aim for perfection: Paul says; restore, reform, correct, mend yourselves and your ways. Stop your sinning, criticism, divisiveness and immorality. The goal must be to be like Christ, our perfect example.

Grow into maturity in Christ: As we aim for perfection, we must be intentional about growing. Anything that refuses to grow, simply dies.

Listen to my appeal: Be assured, consoled, and helped by repenting and turning back to God. In this month of mission, the Lord has been appealing to us to take on his heart for the harvest. Open your heart to the Lord.

Be of one mind in faith, belief, purpose, mission, and ministry. We are co-labourers. We are not competitors. A heart for the harvest is a harvest that is willing to work with others. The harvest is vast and so we must work with others to reap it.

Live in peace.  Love, care, forebear, be long-suffering and concerned for each other.  Have nothing to do with criticism, divisiveness, snobbishness, pride-or feeling superior. These are attitudes that distract us from doing the needful. Reaping the harvest demands our concentration and serious. Living in peace and being agents of God’s peace will accelerate bringing in the harvest.

Prayer:

  • Ask the Lord to help you aim for perfection.
  • Receive the grace of the Lord to shun every distraction as you commit to be a worthy reaper of the end-time harvest.
  • Ask the Lord’s peace to fill your heart and that you may be an agent of His peace.

Rev David Kanda

National Chairman, NEMA

Month of Missions Devotional – Monday, February 26

Topic: Obey the Command

Text: By this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. (John 13: 35).

The love of Christ for His Church is what united Him and His church together. Christianity is meaningless without love. Love in the body of Christ is a command. It is not optional. You cannot be a true Christian without love for one another. The fragrance of love in the body of Christ is a message to the unreached people in the world. We must take practical steps of love within the body of Christ as Churches, agencies and fellowship to take the Gospel to the unreached people. We must show love by encouraging one another in praying together, forming an outreach team in our area, supporting missionaries and strategically reaching the unreached.

Practically show the love of Christ during this year’s month of Mission. Team up with others to show the love of Christ. The gospel is about the Good News of the love of Christ for the world. So, it is a command to make the love of Christ in us known to the world.

See 1 John 2: 5

Prayer:

  • Pray for Nigerian Churches to be motivated in the love of Christ for the unreached.
  • Pray for Nigerian Churches to experience the revival of God’s love.
  • Ask the Lord to make His love find expression through you to the dejected and the lost.

Pastor James Enemakwu Ajeka

Bible Translations Program Coordinator, NEMA

Month of Missions Devotional – Sunday, February 25

Topic: Joy in Soul Winning

Text:  II Corinthians 13:11

 Joy is a great reward especially to he who has done the expected. The aim of every believer is to be at the camp of those that will finally be rejoicing in the presence of the Master. Meanwhile, while here on earth it is expected that every believer inculcate the attitude of rejoicing especially when it involves the following:

  1. Restoration of Souls to Christ:- The harvest is truly plentiful as indicated by the Master (Matt. 9:37). As such there is need for more hands and effort geared towards the restoration of these lives to the Savior while it is yet day. This task should be done diligently and with the attitude of rejoicing as souls are brought to Christ.
  2. Comforting and Agreeing with One Another:- Considering the time and happenings of today in fulfillment of II Tim. 3. The church should be the safest place to both believers and unbelievers. The church should be a place of comfort and agreement. A place where sinners can run to and witness the love of God. Let us be found comforting one another as well as agreeing in reaching out to the lost joyfully.
  3. Living in Peace:- As tribulations, war and crime increase, the Church should be an example of peace through negotiations, teachings and living an exemplary peaceful life. Chaos should not be found in the church for we are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14)

As we go about doing these things; there will be progress in bringing many to God’s kingdom because His love and peace will abound in our lives always.

Prayer:

  • Ask the Lord to eliminate barriers and differences in the church that have caused setbacks in bringing many to the knowledge of God and His Christ.
  • Use John 17:22 to pray for unity in the church as we carry out the Great Commission.

Rev Dr. Salem Baba Lile

Missions Director, UMCA

Month of Missions Devotional – Saturday, February 24

Topic: Paying the price for winning the lost: The Value of a soul

Text: Mark 5:11-15

On many occasions we have heard from churches and denominations that they cannot afford cross cultural missions because it’s too expensive. I have been a witness to the withdrawal of missionaries from both local and international fields because the local assembly and ministry sponsoring the missionaries felt the amount of money going into the venture is huge and cannot be sustained. While I am a strong advocate of creative initiatives for generating income to sustain missionaries on the field by missionaries themselves, I want to state categorically that it has never been cheap to save lost souls anywhere at any time.

In our text today, if you take extra time to read from chapter four especially from verse 35, Jesus instructed his disciples to cross over with him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, he had to send away the crowd to enable him step out to cross the sea. He was so tired working all day that he slept in the lower chamber of the ship almost immediately, then came the storm, which I personally believe Jesus knew was going to come but he still took the risk for the soul of the mad man of Gadara. There is so much to unpack in the entire story, but for lack of time and space in this devotion we will focus on verse 11-15 of Chapter 5. Jesus “wasted” 2000 pigs to offload one man of destructive demons and bring him to the knowledge of salvation in the Savior Jesus. In one of my engagements in Eastern Nigeria where pork meat is a delicacy, I asked what the price of an average pig is, and they said it is between 100 and 150 thousand Naira. If we just take the lowest, 100 thousand Naira and multiply by the 2000 pigs, that’s 200 million Naira on one soul.  I asked in another Church if they will still go ahead and spend N200 million on a crusade or gospel outreach if the Lord has revealed that it is only one soul that will be saved by that adventure. A prominent women leader in the assembly said “God forbid”. In Mark chapter 8 verse 36, Jesus asked a question, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Jesus equated the entire world with the soul of one man and still said the whole world is not worth the soul of a man.

What is your personal, family, local church and denomination’s budget for cross cultural missions? How many cross-cultural missionaries are on your church’s payroll? Some of the major missions outreaches by missionaries from Europe to Africa in the first missions era was funded not only by churches but Christian owned businesses. I was told that one man single-handedly donated the ship that brought the Presbyterian missionary team of Hope Masterton Waddell to Calabar from Scotland in 1846. He kept sending about 100 pounds monthly for the maintenance of the same ship for further use by the mission team for many years. The hope of saving the lost is dependent on the love and sacrifice for finding them by the saved.

Prayer:

  • Ask the Lord to fill the church with men and women with love for the lost and unlimited sacrifice for their salvation.
  • Pray for God to prosper the businesses and investments of the believers who have the heart for the harvest for the purpose of expanding his kingdom.
  • Pray for more Christian professionals to use their skills and platforms to reach others.

Pastor Victor Idakwoji

Director of Mobilization and Networking, NEMA

Month of Mission Devotional – Friday, February 23

Topic: The Readiness of the Harvest

Text: “You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest” John 4:35 [NLT]

 

Jesus directs the gaze of His disciples to the fields, declaring, “…But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.” Picture a field where grain, once green, has undergone a transformative journey from yellow to a light color, almost white in the sunlight. In the agricultural language of the time, a “white” field signified readiness for harvest – a moment when every delay could mean lost opportunity.

The issue is not that the fields are not ripe, or the souls unprepared. Rather, the problem lies in the reluctance of the laborers to venture into the fields and gather the harvest. Many have found every reason to delay and hesitant to respond to the call. A seasoned farmer will affirm that the harvest does not wait. When the time arrives, you either reap or risk losing the crops. Jesus, with a sense of urgency, addresses His disciples, “Men, we don’t have months to stall and wait for the harvest. The harvest is here, and it is ready for us.”

A genuine heart for the harvest means understanding the immediacy of the call. It involves looking at the lost world around us and recognizing the urgency to share the gospel. The harvest is ready, and the time to act is now. Let us embrace the responsibility of laborers in the fields of Soul. The fields are white, the souls are ready, and the call is urgent. May our hearts align with the directive of the Master, compelling us to go into the fields and gather the harvest that awaits. The readiness is apparent; the harvest is ready – it beckons for us to respond promptly.

Prayer:

  • Ask the Lord to cause you to see the harvest even as He does.
  • Ask the Lord to make your heart genuine and willing to serve His eternal purpose.
  • Pray that the burden to reach the lost will overwhelm our Churches.

Samuel Ocheje,

Finance Manager, NEMA