Prayer Fuel

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

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:1-6) ESV

Praying with insight

Judgment and hypocrisy are core to all humanity’s sinful nature. Muslims are no exception. We all quickly try to pull the speck out of our neighbor’s eye while a log pokes out of our own. Today, there will be people who will judge a woman for not wearing a proper hijab (Islamic head covering) while spreading hurtful gossip and lies about a neighbor. There will be people who will condemn someone for drinking alcohol while stealing money from an employer. Pray for people here to be convicted of their own hypocrisy and to turn to Christ for forgiveness and new hearts.

For believers

Jesus, you long for us to see. Sin clouds our sight. We see one another through eyes of judgment, forgetting that we have been forgiven. Lord, please let us and the believers of this land bow before you in repentance for cleansing. Let us see, and then, as we lovingly correct our brothers and sisters, let us do so in humility, asking for them to also correct us when we cannot see

For the lost

It takes tremendous humility to accept correction with grace. It is especially hard when someone declares something that disagrees with the words of grandparents and parents. When the Muslims in this area hear that Jesus really did die to rescue humanity and rise to defeat death, may they not stumble over the cross. Let them receive the holy pearls of truth with joy and not trample them or be angry at being judged or corrected.

For the church

Pray for the church of this land to “put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation– if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-3) As the church puts away these things, may nonbelieving onlookers be drawn to know the source of their new way of life. We pray for groups of seekers to come together around God’s Word and to have opportunities to taste and see that the Lord is good.

For areas of influence

Places of Religion

As Muslims walk into mosques today, we pray for them to be reminded of any judgmental attitudes and hypocritical ways in them. Only the Holy Spirit can convict of sin and righteousness. We pray for God to graciously convict their hearts and put them on a path of wanting to understand the teachings of the Messiah.

We pray for those who will go to the mosque to listen to the Koran be read tonight. When they hear judgmental words being said by those around them, let it unsettle their hearts and cause them to wonder if there’s another way. Pray for curiosity to grow and for believers to be ready to respond to those who want to take logs out of their own eyes.

Declaration of the scripture

“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then, each one will receive his commendation from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5) ESV

Only God sees the heart. We do not. Free Christians in this land from the pressure to read other’s motives and hearts. Give each one a deep trust in the Lord’s judgment and timing. Help believers to lean towards grace, believing the best, and trusting God to separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30). As new leaders emerge for simple churches, give them humility and godly love to shepherd their church towards holiness and away from hypocrisy.