Prayer Tips

As Myanmar approaches its first general election in 20 years, dictator General Than Shwe is taking steps to maintain control. All of the cabinet members in his military regime were forced to resign from the Army. While they have retained their positions, some are not pleased with this move. One Burmese news agency reports that "Shwe is facing a mutiny among his subordinates. There are growing signs of discontent." Pray for the Lord to raise up leaders in Myanmar who will serve the people with integrity and honesty. Ask Him to provide men and women who fear His name and will seek the good of the nation, rather than their own good. Pray for this uncertain time to be an opportunity for hearts and minds to be turned toward eternity. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed in Myanmar and for those who hear it to respond, placing their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Invite God's Kingdom to come to this nation, as it is in heaven..

Western governments have been assisting Turkmenistan in its efforts to guard its borders with Iran and Afghanistan against terrorists. The nation has been plagued by money-laundering and terrorism financing in the past, but is slowly improving its security to counteract these activities. Pray for these efforts to be successful in stopping the flow of Taliban and al-Qaeda members in Turkmenistan, as well as funding for their organizations. Plead with the Lord to give the government wisdom and discernment in fighting terrorism. Intercede on behalf of the people of Turkmenistan, many of whom are Muslim. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout this region and for those held captive by Islam to be set free. Ask for a great harvest of souls in Turkmenistan that will spread throughout Central Asia.

Victims of Hezbollah rocket attacks during the Lebanese-Israeli War of 2006 have filed suit against Qatar's Al-Jazeera television, claiming the network "intentionally provided real-time coverage of the locations of the missile strikes inside Israel." The plaintiffs say this helped the terrorist group "more accurately aim their missiles at civilian population centers." Pray for the government of Qatar to use wisdom in dealing with this issue and do everything in their power to hinder rather than support Hezbollah. Ask the Lord to expose and scatter members of this organization, cut off their funding and arms supply, and defeat their attempts to unleash violence and war in the Middle East. Pray for the people of Qatar to see the destructiveness of this and other extremist groups, turn away from the lies of Islam, and embrace the Truth of Jesus Christ. Petition the Lord to make the Gospel known in Qatar. Pray for Believers to boldly share their faith and for multit...

The government of Bahrain recently prosecuted seven men for terrorism, sentencing them to life in prison for their involvement in a murder. Human rights groups claim this is a politically-motivated verdict and have also accused the government of using excessive force against the suspects and their families. The government contends the judgment and the actions leading up to it were warranted because the crime was "designed to provoke terror." Pray for the Lord to give officials in Bahrain wisdom in dealing with threats to the nation's security. Ask Him to root out corruption and attempts to control and manipulate. Pray for the countries of the Saudi Arabian Peninsula to be cautious and vigilant in their attempts to combat terrorism. Pray for the safety of the Bahraini people. Invite the Lord to pour His Holy Spirit out on Bahrain, freeing the people from the bondage of Islam and leading them into the freedom of life in Jesus Christ.

According to a news source, "China considers Taiwan a renegade province and keeps more than 1,000 missiles pointed at the island. Taiwan stockpiles… weapons to defend itself." Despite the animosity between the governments of these nations, the people are increasingly crossing the borders. It is estimated that one million Taiwanese live and run businesses in China, and more than 800,000 Chinese have vacationed in Taiwan so far this year. Pray for peace between Taiwan and China, and for the mingling of these cultures to provide opportunities for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout East Asia. Intercede for Believers as they face persecution and discrimination. Pray for the Lord to give them boldness in sharing the Good News. Invite God's Kingdom to come to Taiwan with great power, signs and wonders.

The government of Djibouti plans to take part in a "conflict-intervention force" currently being proposed by the African Union. Djibouti will also be sending troops to Somalia in an effort to "stem the spread of terrorism." Praise the Lord for Djibouti's vigilance in securing the Horn of Africa region. Thank Him for giving the leaders of this nation wisdom and for motivating them to act – despite their small size and limited resources. Pray for these actions to inspire other nations to be similarly determined in the fight against terrorism. Plead with the Lord for the hearts of the Djiboutian people. Pray for their salvation, safety, and for the Lord to provide for their needs. Pray for the Lord to grant Djibouti success in rooting out, confronting, and seeking to destroy terrorism. Ask for a multitude of Djiboutians to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

With the outbreak of violence between Kyrgyz and ethnic Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan finds itself caught in the geographic middle (a thin arm of Tajikistan runs between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan). That narrow piece of Tajikistan is also suspected of harboring Islamic militants, some of whom have sought refuge there from Afghanistan (a neighbor to the south). Pray for this troubled, poverty-stricken, potentially violent nation. Ask the Lord to establish and maintain peace throughout this region, restraining terrorism and genocide, and providing peace and hope for the people of Tajikistan. Pray for the Good News of Jesus Christ to be preached and demonstrated by Believers and for those who are suffering from the effects of war and ethnic hatred to put their hope and trust in Him. Invite God's Kingdom to come to Tajikistan during this critical time, as it is in heaven.

According to observers, Israel's growing isolation from the international community has one principle source: fear. With Iran seeking to develop nuclear weapons and threatening to use them against Israel, and terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbullah using missile attacks against them instead of just suicide bombings, the nation does indeed have reason to be concerned. Pray for this time of uncertainty and anxiety to be used by the Lord to open the eyes and minds of the Jews in Israel. Plead with Him for a great awakening and for Israelis to see and accept Yeshua Ha Messiah. Pray for the protection of Israel, as well as the territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Invite the Lord to establish and maintain peace in the region. Pray for Believers to be bold in sharing the Gospel and for the Kingdom of God to come to Israel with great power, signs and wonders.

According to a recent report by the Iraqi government, "three decades of wars, massacres and sectarian killings have left Iraq with as many as a million widows." As one widow explained, "Our life has been turned into misery and desperation." Cry out for this war-torn, wounded and hurting nation. Pray for the Lord to bring comfort and strength to the many widows and orphans. Ask Him to use this pain and suffering as a means of turning hearts toward the hope found only in Jesus Christ. Plead for peace in Iraq. Pray for extremists and terrorists to see the futility of their actions. Petition the Lord to bring godly sorrow that will lead to repentance and salvation. Invite God's Kingdom to come to Iraq and ask the Lord to draw multitudes into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

After a 2003 terrorist attack in Casablanca, the government of Morocco stepped up its anti-terrorism efforts. They have reportedly thwarted a number of attempted terrorist attacks since that time. "Morocco stands out as an exception among other Arab countries," one journalist noted, "but this cannot be taken for granted. Terrorism is a cross-border phenomenon that can reach anywhere, anytime." Pray for the Lord to protect this nation and its people from the demonically - inspired schemes of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and other extremist groups. Ask for the light of Christ to shine into the darkness of this Islamic nation. Plead for the salvation of the many unreached and lost in Morocco. Pray for missionaries to be allowed inside and for their efforts to be fruitful and lasting. Ask the Lord to establish His Kingdom in Morocco.

A survey of nations by Freedom House found that "corruption continues to be a widespread phenomenon in Albania." It also noted that "government efforts to tackle corruption have stalled." Pray for the Lord to visit this European nation, pouring out the Holy Spirit and drawing hearts to His Son. Cry out for the Gospel to reach every people group and for a great harvest of souls to result. Ask the Lord to strengthen and empower Believers and give them boldness in sharing their faith. Pray for their protection and provision. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Albania as it is in heaven.

The former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan (approximately 77% Muslim) is continuing to crack down on religious freedom – specifically the rights of Christians. In the past two years, the government has stepped up efforts to eradicate Christianity by raiding church services, detaining and fining Believers, and sending pastors to prison. "Christians in Uzbekistan are among the most courageous in the world," writes Dr. Patrick Sookhdeo of Barnabas Aid, "as they boldly continue with their ministry and witness despite growing pressure and persecution." Pray for the Lord to be present with these precious Brothers and Sisters, giving them peace and empowering them to stand firm in their faith. Pray for the joy of the Lord to be their strength. Ask the Lord to transform the hearts of the authorities and bring many of them to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed to every people group and for multitudes to be drawn into relationship with Chri...

Although Egypt is overwhelmingly Muslim, the culture is beginning to change. Men and women still conform to the standards of Islam in appearance (the way they dress and eat) but some are questioning the meaning of their religion. "There is a lot of pressure on the street [in Egypt] to at least appear pious," one journalist recently noted. "But that is not how everyone wants to live, not all the time." Praise the Lord for what He is doing in this nation. Pray for this dissatisfaction with past traditions and rigid, works-based religion to be used to draw people into a relationship with the True and Living God through the death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to move among Egyptians – especially the younger generation – showing them the emptiness of Islam and the fullness of knowing the Creator of all things. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout this nation and for Believers to be bold in sharing their faith. Petition the...

"In countries with less democratic tendencies," one journalist recently said, "the threat of al-Qaeda is used in… extreme ways, as a smoke screen to suppress dissent or crack-down on internal separatist movements." As an example, the writer cited Western Sahara. "The Moroccans repeatedly accuse those fighting to liberate Western Sahara as having links with Islamic terrorists." Pray for an end to the pitiful excuses being used to keep the Sahrawi impoverished, sequestered in refugee camps, and separated from their homeland. Ask the Lord to speed their release from captivity – politically, geographically, and spiritually. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move right now through the camps in Algeria where the Sahrawi are forced to live, opening their eyes, minds, and hearts to the truth of Jesus Christ. Pray for a great harvest of souls as they are led out from the bondage of Islam, into the freedom of life in the Kingdom of God.

In a desperate attempt to end crime in Benin, voodoo priests have been called in to curse those who are planning to carry out illegal activities. The nation is considered the birthplace of voodoo and continues to practice and export the satanic religion. Pray for these evil activities to not only fail, but to be used as an opportunity for the Lord to display His great and awesome power. Ask the Lord to protect the people from criminals and the demonic oppression of voodoo. Pray for the captives to be set free by the blood of Jesus Christ. Invite the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in Benin, awakening hearts and drawing the people out from darkness, into the marvelous light of Christ.

The proposed construction of an Armenian orthodox church in the contested region of Nagorno Karabakh is being called an act of terrorism. To allow the church to be built, the chairman of the Azerbaijan State Committee on Work with Religious Organizations stated, is to "support Armenian separatism, Armenian terrorism." Pray for a swift and equitable settlement to this long-running dispute. Ask the Lord to maintain peace and not allow the government or the separatist groups to engage in violence or oppression. Pray for a work of healing and reconciliation between these groups that will draw hearts and minds to the ultimate reconciliation – the restoration of relationship between God and mankind brought about by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pray for a great awakening in Azerbaijan.

Although violence pitting the Kyrgyz majority against the ethnic Uzbek minority has subsided, Uzbeks in the south of the nation are now being attacked by security forces. Under the excuse of investigating ethnic clashes, police are reportedly "rounding up Uzbeks and subjecting them to beatings and other abuses." Observers fear this could "further inflame hostilities and possibly provoke new clashes." Cry out to the Lord on behalf of this nation. Pray for Him to establish peace between warring groups, and bring forgiveness and reconciliation. Pray for the healing of Kyrgyzstan – politically, ethnically, and spiritually. Ask the Lord to deliver the Kyrgyz, Uzbeks, and every other people group from the dominion of darkness and lead them into the Kingdom of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Intercede for our Brothers and Sisters as they face violence and persecution. Ask the Lord to give them boldness and use them to proclaim the Gospel throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Terrorists from al-Qaeda and other Islamic extremist organizations have been migrating north, into Saudi Arabia from Yemen. Driven south in recent years by Saudi Arabia's counter-terrorism efforts, many (perhaps more than a hundred) are now moving back into Saudi Arabia in an effort to escape a surge by Yemeni security forces. Pray for the governments of both Saudi Arabia and Yemen to be vigilant in tracking down and eliminating terrorists. Ask the Lord to expose these demonically-motivated groups. Pray for them to have no place to hide. Plead with the Lord for their salvation, along with the salvation of those who are bound up in Islam throughout Saudi Arabia. Cry out for their spiritual freedom. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Saudi Arabia as it is in heaven.

The government of Bhutan recently hosted a regional conference that brought together the prime ministers of India and Pakistan. The focus of the talks was peace and counter-terrorism. "How to rein in Islamic militant groups" and keep new groups from forming and growing were among the topics. Praise the Lord for Bhutan's role in facilitating safety in South Asia. Pray for these and other forms of cooperation to be successful in stopping terrorism. Ask the Lord to expose, root out, and defeat the groups operating in South Asia and provide security to the people of Bhutan. Petition the Lord for a great awakening among the Bhutanese. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed throughout the nation, for the strongholds of false religions (especially Buddhism) to be torn down, and for members of every people group to be set free to know and receive the gift of forgiveness and eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Military aid to Guinea-Bissau from western nations was cut off recently when the government refused demands that military officers involved in drug smuggling be removed. It is widely believed that "the military has not only been bought off by drug gangs, but that the newly appointed head of the army, general Antonio Indjai, is heavily involved in the drug business." Guinea-Bissau is a transit point for South American cartels smuggling drugs into Europe. Because of this, "West Africa is becoming a new source of income for al-Qaeda." Pray for the Lord to bring a swift and complete end to this illegal industry. Ask Him to deliver those who are in bondage to drugs and sever the supply of drugs, along with the funds they provide for cartels and terrorists. Pray for members of these groups to have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. Plead for their salvation. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Guinea-Bissau in power, wiping out corruption and bringing righteousness, pea...

Population : 2,927,500 Political Leader : President Hu Jintao (under China's rule) Christians : Unknown Dominant Religion: Buddhism Persecution Ranking: Not Ranked (China is 13th) Number of Terrorist Groups: None Listed Acts of Terrorism: Not Listed (casualties not listed) Percent of Corruption: Insufficient Data to Rank Percent of People in Poverty: Not Ranked The Central Asian nation of Tibet, often referred to as the "Roof of the World" because of its high elevation (averaging 16,000 feet above sea level), is currently part of China. The majority of Tibetans are Buddhist. They believe in a cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation), and live in fear that their behavior in this life will determine the quality of the next. Although the Constitution of the People's Republic of China provides for freedom of religion, the government restricts religious practice to state-sanctioned places of worship. PRAISE The Chinese government limits access to Tibet, but radio program...

Population : 152,217,341 Political Leader : President Goodluck Jonathan Christians : 23.5% Dominant Religion: Sunni Islam Persecution Ranking: 27th Number of Terrorist Groups: 5 Acts of Terrorism: 38 (13 casualties) Percent of Corruption: 78% Percent of People in Poverty: 70% Located between Benin and Cameroon in West Africa, Nigeria is the most populous country on the African continent. Extremists have been captured and prosecuted by the Nigerian government. This indicates a commitment to combat terrorism. Many of the northern states are predominantly Muslim and have imposed Islamic Shari'a law. Christians in these areas face intense persecution. Thousands have died and countless church buildings have been destroyed. PRAISE Persecution has served to deepen the faith of Nigerian Believers. Many have devoted themselves to prayer and strategic spiritual warfare. Christians in the south have taken Hebrews 13:3 seriously and are identifying with their suffering brothers and sisters thr...

"Iran has been steadily increasing its ties with Mongolia," a business journal reports. The Iranian government has also been "exploring its options for Mongolian raw uranium…," which many believe will be used in its nuclear program. Pray for the government of Mongolia to use wisdom in dealing with Iran and other nations that might seek to take advantage of them. Pray for them also to avoid partnering with governments who support terrorism. Ask the Lord to continue pouring His Spirit out on this nation, drawing people out from Buddhism and into relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)

Protests in Syria turned deadly in March, forcing President Bashar al-Assad to make concessions. He "indicated that he is willing to lift the state of emergency, in place since 1963 that has given security forces a high degree of power." Pray for this time of turmoil to be used by the Lord to reveal Jesus Christ in Syria. Petition the Lord to raise up leaders who will serve the people and who will take a stand against terrorism. Pray for the people to be set free from the Bondage of this nation. Ask the Lord to establish His Kingdom in this nation. Pray for a great harvest of souls in Syria. (II Corinthians 4:6)

Just as protests have swept through the Arab world, protests have begun in Tibet. Like the demonstrations in North Africa and the Middle East, these were set off by an act of self-immolation. Several arrests have been made, but no one has been able to confirm how many. Pray for this tiny nation to be set free from China and also set free from the lies of Buddhism. Pray for the people to put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Ask the Lord to make the Gospel message known throughout this region. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to Tibet as it is in heaven. (Isaiah 42:6,7)

The government of Eritrea has been accused by neighboring Ethiopia of engaging in ongoing acts of terrorism. "Eritrea's subversive acts should not go any further," Ethiopian officials said. "We will take a series of offensive measures against Eritrea to safeguard our peace and ongoing development." Pray for terrorism and corruption to be rooted out of the Eritrean government. Ask the Lord to raise up leaders who will serve the people with humility. Pray for Christians in Eritrea – especially the thousands who are in prison for their faith. Pray for the salvation of President Isaias Afewerki. Ask the Lord to pour His Holy Spirit out on this nation. Pray for a great harvest of souls in Eritrea. (I Peter 4:13,14)

Two Palestinian terrorists murdered a family of five in the West Bank in March 2011. "Hamas spokespeople in Gaza praised the massacre." The Palestinian Authority distanced itself from the attack and said finding the perpetrators would be difficult. Pray for peace in this troubled area. Pray for both Palestinians and Israelis to hear the Gospel. Pray for the salvation of leaders in the Palestinian Authority. Ask the Lord to strengthen Christians in the West Bank and give them opportunities to share their faith. Pray for the hearts of Palestinians to be soft and for many of them to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Invite the Kingdom of God to come to the West Bank. (Psalm 79:9)

Tensions are rising again in the Gaza Strip after more than 100 rockets were fired into Israel by Hamas members in one week in March. Observers now believe a major Israeli ground invasion might be coming. The last invasion left more than 1,400 dead and thousands homeless. Pray for peace in the Middle East. Pray for the Lord to protect the people of the Gaza Strip from conflicts between Hamas and the Israeli military. Pray for Hamas to lose support and power. Ask the Lord to provide food, shelter, clean water, and medicine to those in the Gaza Strip who are still suffering from the effects of the last invasion. Pray for the Gospel to be proclaimed in this region and for many men, women and children to put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. (Genesis 22:14)