Prayer Fuel

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

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16-18) ESV

Praying with insight

Muslims and Christians use the same Arabic word for “fasting.” And similar to what we learned yesterday about prayer, the meanings are fundamentally different. Muslim fasting is rigidly defined as no food, water, sex, or smoking from dawn to dusk. Christian fasting takes on many more forms. Muslim fasting is enforced (or broadly promoted) in Muslim countries during Ramadan. Jesus taught, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret….” (Matthew 6:16-18). Today, we pray that Muslims will come across Jesus’ teachings about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount and be challenged to continue investigating His teachings.

For believers

Jesus, thank you for teaching us that admiration of others is a poor reward for fasting. Father, thank you for seeing what is in secret. Nothing is hidden from you. Please help believers who have come out of Islam not to reject fasting because it reminds them of Islam. Let them instead see the example and words of Jesus that call us to fast. “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.” (Mark 2:20) Lord, we pray that your children will fast, longing for the day that the bridegroom comes to bring them to the place he has prepared for them. May believers be satisfied only in eating the bread of Jesus.

For the lost

May all who fast to be seen by others find their fast empty. Thank you, Father, for seeing the thoughts and motives of the heart. For those who are simply being obedient to their parents or culture, awaken them from their slumber; open their eyes to see God. For those who deeply long to please God but do not know who He is, please let them meet a believer who speaks of Jesus or read the Gospel online. We pray for true fasting that hungers to know God as revealed in Jesus Christ by His Spirit.

For the church

We pray for the church among this people group to be an example of true fasting that pleases God (Isaiah 58:6-7):

• loosening the bonds of wickedness in their own lives and inspiring the lost around them to loosen their own bonds of wickedness
• letting the oppressed go free and breaking every chain
• sharing their bread with the hungry
• bringing the homeless and poor into their homes
• covering the naked with clothing

For areas of influence

Places of Community

Pray for the communal places where Muslims gather to break the fast today. Pray for families and friends who gather together to have meaningful conversations that would stir a spiritual hunger among them for more.
Pray for the families that gather around tables after a day of religious fasting to feast on food and, unfortunately, relational strife, to ponder what the fruit of fasting should be. Pray for opportunities for those with soft hearts to meet a Christian who could share about Christian fasting.

Declaration of the scripture

We pray the promise of the rest of Isaiah 58:8-12 over this land.

May the people’s light break forth like the dawn and healing spring up speedily in this land. We pray for righteousness to go before your people here, and for the glory of the Lord to be their rear guard. We pray for many to call upon you and for you to answer. May many in this land, even today, cry to you, and you will say, ‘Here I am.’

Lord, guide the people of this land continually and satisfy their desire in scorched places. Make their bones strong. May the people of this place be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

“And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations.” (Isaiah 58:12) Lord, we pray for many spiritual generations of disciples (disciples who make disciples who make disciples who make disciples) in this land. Amen.