We wrap up month two of our journey today! It's hard to believe we've been traveling for 60 days at this point. Let me encourage you not to grow weary in well-doing. Perservering in prayer is a Biblical exhortation, but it's not always easy! Remember our journey is a process; some days you will feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in a strong way or have a lot of prayer points really jump out at you, while other days you may feel like your prayers are hitting the ceiling. Don't despair - that is normal! Keep pressing on. If you get behind, keep on anyway. One reason these blogs are numbered as well as dated is so you can keep up whatever day of the year you start. And never hesitate to share how you are praying with the rest of us - we need to learn and grow together!
OK, please read about Bahrain on pages 130-132, then return here for prayer.
Did you catch the multiple references to "expatriate" Christians? Expatriates, or ex-pats as they affectionately call themselves, are non-natives who are living in the country for work, school, or even ministry. It's not uncommon for laws to apply differently to ex-pats and natives. For example, in many countries ex-pats have a lot of freedom to worship but natives cannot even consider Christianity as an option. Great wisdom is needed for ex-pats to minister to natives and for natives who follow Christ to know what to do for Christian community. The answer is much more complex than it is in the west, where the answer is to simply choose a church and start attending. For an inside look at the complex choices facing Muslim Background Believers and those who would minister to them, I highly recommend Brother Andrew's Secret Believers.
My prayer for today: Oh Lord, we thank You for a country like Bahrain, trying hard to avoid the downfalls of radical Islam and terrorism. Thank You for the openness that exists here. We pray for the king to continue to provide leadership in a way that enables believers to live quiet, peaceful lives that result in the spread of the Gospel. We thank You for the fruit from the American Mission Hospital and pray that there will be continued wisdom for those who serve there. Thank You for the local belivers. We pray for their growth, unity, and cooperation to be a witness to other Arabs. We pray for the expatriates to have courage and wisdom to share the Gospel. We pray specifically for You to call teachers to serve in Bahrain who will be witnesses to you in their jobs. We pray for the labor force to be treated with dignity and respect by employers and to receive a fair wage. We pray the labor force will have opportunities to hear the Gospel. We pray for the truth and light of Christ to be proclaimed in the media outlets and that this will have a reach far beyond Bahrain's borders. Thank You for Bahrain's openness. Thank You for stirring Your Spirit to work within Bahrain. In Jesus' name, amen.
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