I am sure many of you reading this week’s column are aware of all that is going on in Afghanistan. It is one of the most horrific things I have ever witnessed in my lifetime. While I am sure there are many opinions about how all this has been handled, it is not the opinions or commentaries that matter. Rather, it is the people themselves that matter.
The Lord will deal with those in leadership who have made right or wrong decisions in this situation, just as we all one day will face judgement for the decisions we make in this life. However, hour by hour, there are innocent people and brothers and sisters in Christ who are being killed for their faith in Yeshua, our Messiah. The Christian church in Afghanistan is the second fastest-growing church worldwide and now our brothers and sisters in Christ are facing vicious retaliation from the Taliban. We as believers have a responsibility to pray for them.
There is no doubt that we are seeing the fulfillment of scripture being played out more and more in the days we are currently living in, for the Lord is setting up the day for His return to take place soon. Matthew 24: 7, 21-22, tells us, “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.”
Often the challenge for us as believers is to keep our eyes on the spiritual and not focus on what we see with our natural eye. So, this week, I am asking everyone reading this article to put aside all news, commentaries and opinions and spend time praying for Afghanistan.
Many churches around the world are joining together to pray 2 Kings 6: 9-23 for Afghanistan and the believers who live there. May we never forget that the same God who did miracles in the Old and New Testaments is still doing miracles today. Psalm 121 tells us that our God does not slumber or sleep and is always watching over us. So today, I ask you to take time and read the passage in 2 Kings and then pray the following prayer points for the people in Afghanistan.
* Pray for God’s power to be demonstrated over the enemy. Nothing is too big for our God!
* Pray for a spirit of confusion over the plans of the evil ones and their plans would not prosper but instead that the evil leaders would be brought to repentance in Jesus.
* Pray against the spirit of death and fear for the believers and that God would reveal paths of escape for them.
* Pray that the Lord would keep the believers strong and their secrets concealed.
* Pray a special protection over the women and young girls.
* Pray for provision of food and supplies for the innocent people.
Oh, Lord, we cry out to you today for the people in Afghanistan and for the church in that land. We pray Psalm 59 and Psalm 121 over them: “Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men…oh, my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go both now and forever.”
If you would like me to join you in prayer please email me at tonif77@gmail.com. I would love to pray for you!