Prayer Tips

According to terrorism experts, one of the greatest dangers facing the world today is "freelance jihadism." As one source notes, "Morocco's internal security forces and tightly guarded borders have kept al-Qaida at bay… but it hasn't stopped the lone wolves who are inspired by al-Qaida to carry out copycat attacks." Pray for all terrorists in Morocco – organized or freelance – to be exposed and defeated. Pray for the strongholds of this country to be broken down. Pray for every people group in Morocco to have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel. Plead with the Lord for a great harvest of souls. (II Corinthians 10:4)

The nation of Albania is a source and transit point for human and drug trafficking. In October 2011, the European Union announced it will be helping   Albania fight these crimes. Pray for this assistance to be effective in helping bring an end to drug and human smuggling. Pray for the Lord to set free and bring healing to all who are imprisoned by human slavery and drug addiction. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on Albania. Ask the Lord to draw men, women, and children into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Isaiah 61:1)

In March 2012, the International Security and National Resilience Exhibition will hold a meeting in UAE to discuss international security risks and ways to increase cooperation between nations in the fight against terror. Pray for this meeting to be productive and to help governments put together new strategies for combating terrorism. Pray for the people of UAE to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Ask the Lord to soften their hearts and open their minds. Petition the Lord for a great harvest of souls in the UAE. (Romans 10:14,15)

Human rights groups are calling on the government of Nepal to take action against religious traditions that encourage discrimination and violence against women. In the Deuki system, for instance, Nepalese families give their young daughters to the Buddhist temple where they live in poverty, are exploited, and are often forced into prostitution. Pray for an end to these destructive practices. Ask the Lord to arise and do battle on behalf of Nepalese women. Pray for Christians and Christian ministries to provide a refuge for these victims. Petition the Lord to spread the Gospel throughout Nepal. Pray for a great harvest of souls in this nation. (Proverbs 14:26).

As Forum 18 points out, "Without registration, all religious activity is illegal" in Uzbekistan. However, the government refuses to issue permits. This has led to the closure of several churches. Some fellowships have been applying for permission to meet for over ten years. Pray for Christian Brothers and Sisters in this nation to be encouraged and to be comforted by the Lord. Ask the Lord to give them strength and the ability to persevere. Pray for them to continue proclaiming and demonstrating the love of God. Petition the Lord to open blind minds and for men, women, and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (II Corinthians 4:4)

Twenty-six people were killed in Egypt in October 2011 – the worst violence since President Hosni Mubarak was driven out of office in February. Observers believe this points to a much larger problem: "that the military council ruling Egypt since the revolution was incapable of managing the transition." Pray for the Lord's plans and purposes to be fulfilled in this nation. Ask Him to use this time of unrest and uncertainty to draw people into r elationship with Jesus Christ. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Egypt. Petition the Lord to give Christians courage as they face persecution. Pray for God's Kingdom to come to Egypt with signs, wonders, miracles, dreams, and visions. (Acts 2:17)

In October 2011, security forces stopped al-Qaeda-related terrorist groups from carrying out plans to disrupt presidential elections. Officials say Islamic extremism is on the rise, especially in the south. Pray for these groups to be defeated. Ask the Lord to give the government wisdom in combating terrorism. Pray for the people of Kyrgyzstan to turn to the Lord for safety and protection. Petition the Lord to pour His Holy Spirit out in this nation. Pray for men, women, and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Psalm 17:13)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is flourishing in the Sahel region of Africa. After Mauritania cracked down on AQIM activities, the terrorists moved their operations to Niger. The government of Niger is now appealing to other nations for assistance in dealing with this growing threat to security. Pray for AQIM to be defeated throughout West Africa. Ask the Lord to expose their operations and give leaders in Niger wisdom in defeating them. Pray for the Gospel to be made known throughout Niger. Ask the Lord for a great harvest of souls in this nation. (Psalm 11:5)

Heavy monsoon rains and a series of tropical storms caused serious flooding in Thailand in October 2011. Hundreds died and millions more have been affected. Pray for the people of Thailand to cry out to the Lord for relief. Ask Him to have mercy on this nation. Pray for Him to comfort those who have lost loved ones. Pray for this crisis to be an opportunity for Christian humanitarian groups to meet spiritual and physical needs. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout Thailand and for multitudes to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Psalm 59:16)

Drug smuggling is on the rise in Guinea and other West African nations, according to a new report. The region has become a "major transit point" for South American narcotics. Pray for the Lord to expose those who are trafficking in drugs. Pray for the networks being used to transport and sell drugs to be broken and for those involved to be prosecuted. Ask the Lord to send workers to Guinea to proclaim the Gospel to every people group. Pray for the Church in this nation to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Guinea. ( Ephesians 6:10)

The government of Saudi Arabia has demanded that President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen step down. At the same time, Saudi Arabia is worried that if Saleh leaves office, it will result in chaos that could sweep across the entire Arabian Peninsula. Pray for peace in this region. Ask the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes in Saudi Arabia. Pray for the strongholds of this country to be torn down. Plead for the spiritual freedom of all those who are being held captive by this country. Petition the Lord for a great harvest of souls in Saudi Arabia. (II Corinthians 10:4)

Gospel tracts are now being made available in local languages for the first time. Pray for the Christians involved in this ministry. Ask the Lord to protect them and supply them with the resources they need to accomplish this project. Pray for the tracts to be effective in communicating the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to prepare the hearts of the people in Bhutan to hear and receive the Gospel. Pray for a great harvest of souls in this nation. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Bhutan with power, signs, wonders, and miracles. (Matthew 13:23)

An international aid agency has named Bangladesh the top nation in the world for vulnerability to climate change. Approximately half of the country's 150 million people already live below the poverty line. Pray for the Lord to provide for this impoverished nation. Ask Him to bring relief and hope through the preaching of the Gospel and the display of God's love in humanitarian aid. Ask for multitudes of men, women, and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Psalm 62:8)

A nation-wide strike by customs workers has raised fears that crude oil shipments could be blocked. Kuwait is the fifth-largest producer of oil in the world. Pray for this situation to cause Kuwaitis to call out to the Lord for help. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed in this nation. Ask the Lord to tear down the strongholds of this country. Pray for the Holy Spirit to open the blind eyes and minds of all those who have been deceived. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Kuwait as it is in heaven. ( Matthew 6:10).

According to AFP, "Opium production in Afghanistan, which fuels the Taliban insurgency, is set to rise by nearly two-thirds as prices soar after last year's harvest was blighted by disease." Afghanistan already produces approximately 90% of the world's opium. Pray for this illegal and destructive industry to be put to an end. Pray for Taliban funding to be cut off. Ask the Lord to move powerfully in this nation, setting the people free from the fear of terrorism and the bondage. Petition Him to strengthen and encourage Afghan Christians. Pray for a great harvest of souls in Afghanistan as God's Kingdom comes in power. (Isaiah 61:1)

Thousands of South Sudanese people who have been stranded in the North made their way home in October 2011. Thanks to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1,400 arrived in Juba in just one week. "So far this year," says VOA, "IOM has supported the return of 14,000 people altogether." There are believed to be 800,000 remaining. Pray for these efforts to continue to be effective in returning refugees to South Sudan. Pray for the Lord to protect this new nation and station His angels around it. Ask Him to guide leaders in building the infrastructure needed for this country to prosper. Pray for Christians to stand firm in the Lord and be bold witnesses. (Ephesians 6:19)

The government of the UAE is partnering with the government of Pakistan to fight terrorism and money laundering. Pray for this cooperation to be effective in combating extremist groups and cutting off their funding sources. Pray for the UAE to be free of terrorism. Petition the Lord to strengthen Christians in this nation and give them opportunities to share the Gospel. Pray for the Muslims of the UAE to be freed from the bondage and drawn into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Isaiah 42:6,7)

A meeting in October 2011 between President Omar al-Bashir and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir helped improve relations between the two nations. Both agreed to "maintain positive and preferential cooperation between the two sisterly countries." Pray for these agreements to be upheld. Pray for Omar al-Bashir to keep his word. Pray for his salvation. Ask the Lord to pour out His Holy Spirit on North Sudan. Pray for multitudes of Muslims to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Psalm 37:35)

Terrorists are using Nepal as a staging area to smuggle counterfeit money and to recruit members. Pray for this to stop immediately. Ask the Lord to provide the government of Nepal with the resources they need to capture terrorists. Pray for Christians in this nation to be bold witnesses for Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to make the Gospel known throughout Nepal. Pray for the strongholds of this country to be torn down. Ask the Lord to bring forth a great harvest of souls. (Psalm 37:10)

The government of India is actively promoting global cooperation in the fight against terrorism. However, in the meantime, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is calling for India to “stand on its own feet” in order to protect its people. Pray for the Lord to guard this nation against the threat of extremist groups. Ask Him to bring defeat to these organizations – cutting off their funding, causing their recruiting efforts and plans to fail. Pray for the salvation of key members of these groups. Petition the Lord to continue His powerful work in India, drawing Hindus and Muslims into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Romans 10:13)

One of the leaders of Nigeria’s Boko Haram terrorist group says that some of their members were trained in Mauritania. He claims that Islamists in Mauritania “exported Boko Haram to Nigeria.” Pray for the Lord to disrupt this system of terror. Ask Him to expose and bring to defeat every extremist group operating in Mauritania. Pray for the people – especially the youth – to be protected from violence and recruiting efforts. Pray for the Gospel to be preached throughout Mauritania. Ask the Lord for a great harvest of souls. (John 4:35)

The authoritarian government of Myanmar is showing signs of easing up in its oppression of the people. Although it has aggressively restricted access to the internet, in September it began allowing access to previously banned news websites. Praise the Lord for this development. Ask Him to continue to work in the hearts and minds of government leaders. Pray for this growing openness to be an opportunity for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout Myanmar. Pray for every people group to hear and respond to the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. Petition the Lord for a great harvest of souls. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Myanmar in power. (I Corinthians 4:20)

The government of Ethiopia recently arrested several opposition politicians and journalists, accusing them of plotting terrorist acts. Human rights groups believe the arrests were politically motivated and are a misuse of anti-terrorism laws. Pray for terrorist plots in Ethiopia to be exposed and defeated. Ask the Lord to bring an end to abuse against opposition parties. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout Ethiopia. Pray for a revival in the Orthodox Church. Petition the Lord to give Christians opportunities to share the Good News. Pray for a great harvest of souls in Ethiopia. (Psalm 80:18)

"From the clubs in the capitol to the impoverished ranks of its state workers and inmates in the prisons, heroin use has permeated post-Soviet Turkmen society," states The New York Times. One western diplomat adds, "The accepted understanding is that in every extended family there are at least one or two addicts." There are even reports of entire families using heroin. One young man who formerly held a government position stated, "The authorities extort bribes from smugglers and dealers and later shake them down in prison or make their families pay for their release from prison." Please pray against widespread corruption in the government. Pray that God would raise up godly leaders. Also pray for those families affected directly or indirectly by drug use. Pray for God's Kingdom to come, His will to be done in Turkmenistan. Please pray that Christians will see this as an opportunity to share God's hope with a nation in bondage. (John 10:10)

Qatar is a very small country on the Arab Peninsula. The majority of the population is made up of expatriates. According to Operation World, "The strict Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam is the state religion. Proselytism of Muslims is forbidden, but expatriate Christians are allowed to practice their faith." The ability of the few believers to meet together is limited by government policies and the high cost of renting adequate meeting facilities. Please pray for a true birthing of the Qatari Church. Pray that there will be unity among Christians and that they will succeed in God's purpose for the Church there. Pray that the government will relieve its restrictions on Christians in Qatar and that those in authority would be saved. (Mark 10:27)

Because of many internal and external influences, including Iran, Lebanon is politically fragile. Despite this, Lebanon has openings for the advancement of the Gospel. In the area of education, especially, there is tremendous opportunity. With the current unrest in neighboring Syria, Prime Minster Najib Miqati expressed his need to stay completely disconnected from the conflict. The Prime Minister stated, "We are trying our utmost to distance Lebanon from regional developments, especially those in Syria." Pray that the leaders in Lebanon will recognize the need for change and move in a positive direction that opens the country up for the Good News and that is favorable to the Christian community. Pray for the Church in Lebanon to be bold in their witness. Also pray that those opposing the Gospel will fail. (I Samuel 14:6)

Brunei is one of the wealthiest nations in Asia. Although their constitution guarantees the free practice of all religions, Islam is the state-recognized religion and therefore dominates public life. According to Operation World, "Other religions are often infiltrated by government agents for monitoring purposes." Pray that the government will adhere to its constitutional provision for freedom to worship as one pleases. Pray that God will expose and convict those who refuse to support the free openness of walking his or her faith. Pray that Christians will be bold in their witness and receive God's protection. Pray that those in the Royal Family will be fair in their dealings and be open to receiving Christ. (Proverbs 21:1-3)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was originally made up of Islamic insurgents rebelling against the Algerian government. The group then became affiliated with al-Qaeda and began terrorist operations. It now operates throughout West and North Africa, and is becoming increasingly active in Senegal. Pray for the government of Senegal to take immediate and forceful action against AQIM. Pray for this group to be wiped out. Ask the Lord to protect the people of Senegal from extremist groups. Pray for the Gospel to be preached throughout this nation and for multitudes to respond, putting their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Psalm 5:10)

In May 2011, the government of Jordan charged 146 extremist Muslims with "plotting to carry out acts of terrorism." The arrests were made in the aftermath of protests that involved clashes with security forces. Pray for terrorists to continue to be exposed, arrested and prosecuted. Pray also for corruption in the government to be revealed. Ask the Lord to accomplish His plans for Jordan. Pray for the Gospel to be preached throughout this nation. Petition the Lord to empower Christians in Jordan to be salt and light to their neighbors. Ask for a great harvest of souls and for God's Kingdom to come and His will be done in Jordan. (Matthew 5:13,14)

Protests that have rocked the Arab world have now made their way to the Maldives. More than 50 people were arrested and several members of security forces injured as opposition party members demonstrated in the streets. Protesters were reportedly calling attention to skyrocketing prices. Pray for this closed, Muslim nation to be penetrated by the Gospel. Ask the Lord to use this time of growing unrest to prepare hearts to receive the Good News of Jesus Christ. Pray for men, women and children who have been deceived by the Bondage of this nation to see the Truth and Light of Christ. Plead with the Lord for a great harvest of souls in Maldives.

"Bin Laden's death offers an opportunity for improved relations between the United States and the Muslim world," one Nigerian stated. Others warned, "It could lead to more violence." Pray for peace between Muslims (North) and Christians (South) in this nation. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on Nigeria. Ask the Lord to move in the young hearts of those who follow evil acts. Petition the Lord to set them free from bondage and draw them into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Ask the Lord to bring forth a great harvest of souls in Nigeria. Invite His Kingdom to come in this nation. (Romans 8:15)

The Saharawi people of Western Sahara have been accused of fighting for Libyan leader, Muammar al-Qadhafi and also of being affiliated with al-Qaeda. However, experts in counter- terrorism have "made clear, that Saharawi have no ties whatsoever to al-Qaeda or terrorism" and say they are not aligned with al-Qadhafi. Pray for the freedom of the Saharawi – politically and spiritually. Pray for them to return to their homeland. (John 8:36)

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong stated in May 2011 that his government is strongly committed to eradicating drugs in Laos. Addiction to methamphetamines – known in Laos as yaba (crazy medicine) – is epidemic. Pray for an end to this destructive industry and behavior. Pray for the freedom of the Laotians who are caught in the grip of drugs. Ask the Lord to make the Gospel known throughout this nation, to every people group. Pray for a great harvest of souls in Laos. Ask the Lord to visit this nation, bringing His Kingdom with miracles, signs and wonder. (Psalm 103:6)

A new report says the threat of terrorism in Indonesia is on the rise. It calls Indonesian prisons "terrorism incubators" and warns that hardcore jihadists are plotting to bomb western targets. Pray for these extremists to be exposed and dealt with swiftly. Pray for the protection of the people of this nation. Ask the Lord to set them free from the Bondages. Pray for the Gospel to be presented to them. Petition the Lord for a great harvest of souls. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Indonesia. (Mark 4:22)

Drug trafficking has become a serious problem in Benin. According to one source, "West Africa is slowly transforming itself into the new world center for South American narco-traffickers." Among the "most significant intermediary countries" is Benin. Bribery is reportedly used to ensure the cooperation of security forces. Pray for this corruption to be rooted out. Pray for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in trafficking drugs. Ask the Lord to send faithful workers who will preach the Gospel to the people of Benin. Pray for their hearts and minds to be responsive and for multitudes to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Isaiah 1:4)

Human rights groups report severe and numerous violations of human rights in Kyrgyzstan. Those who oppose the government are routinely arrested, detained and tortured. Pray for an end to this mistreatment, as well as to the government's efforts to control the people through threats and violence. Pray for the salvation of key members of the government and for the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of those who are committing human rights violations. Ask the Lord to move powerfully in Kyrgyzstan, bringing His Kingdom to this nation with great power and glory. (Psalm 72:4)

Drug use in Thailand is not only on the rise but spreading. "Severe drug use" has reportedly reached five of the nation's central provinces and authorities say drug addicts in this region need urgent rehabilitation. Pray for the Lord to give the government of Thailand creative ideas for combating this growing problem. Pray for addicts to be set free from drugs and for dealers to be captured and prosecuted. Petition the Lord to make the Gospel known to every people, tribe and tongue in Thailand. Pray for hearts to be receptive and for many men, women and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Revelation 5:9)

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is generating millions of dollars for their terrorist organization by kidnapping westerners in Niger and other West African nations. The group is also thought to be recruiting more heavily since the death of Osama bin Laden. Pray for AQIM to be defeated. Ask the Lord to expose representatives working in Niger and for them to be brought to justice. Pray for their efforts to intimidate and instill fear to fail. Petition the Lord to move mightily in Niger. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to this nation. (Romans 14:17)