The Power of Praying
Mar 10, 2024 | by The Fellowship
Indah* was born into a Muslim family. She grew up learning that Jesus was only a prophet and that Christians worship three Gods (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Like so many who live in unreached people groups across the world, Indah never had the opportunity to hear or experience the “Good News,” and she most likely never met a follower of Jesus.
In 1993, several groups of Jesus followers began specifically focusing on prayer for billions of people like Indah during Ramadan. The ninth month of the Muslim calendar (lunar), Ramadan is a holy month of fasting every single day. This includes, among other things, abstaining from all food and drink (even water) from the first light of dawn until the setting of the sun. It is a time to purposely seek God more passionately, including additional hours of prayer, cleansing of body and soul, making peace with others and being charitable.
Because most people like Indah do not have access to information and resources about Jesus, the movement in 1993 saw prayer warriors banding together to cry out to God for miraculous intervention to bring the hope of Jesus to these people. They are hungry to know God, but how can they learn the Good News of Jesus unless there are kingdom workers to tell them, Bibles translated into their languages, and promptings from God to seek to learn more?
God moved through the prayers of His people: more workers answered the Lord’s call, and translation efforts were expanded. Soon reports began coming in from all over the Islamic world that Muslims were having dreams and visions of Jesus and coming to faith. That continues to this day.
One such story of the miraculous movement of God involves Indah. She found herself needing new employment to support herself and her family. Soon she was hired as an in-home helper in Aceh, Indonesia, where she would do the laundry, clean, and cook meals. Something was not the same, though -- her new boss was a follower of Jesus and treated Indah differently than previous employers. She treated her with kindness and respect. Indah did not know it, but her employer began praying for Indah to encounter Jesus.
One night while Indah was sleeping, Jesus came in her dreams. He captivated her and she reported never before feeling such peace. Then all of the sudden, Jesus turned into a small pool of water. In her dream, one of the children of the house came with a pitcher, got some of the “Jesus water” and gave it to Indah to drink. Then she woke up.
Jesus said: … whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14
Knowing that her employer follows Jesus, Indah asked her about the dream. She showed Indah the Scripture above and explained that Jesus was offering Indah living water and eternal life. Indah came to know, believe, and follow Jesus shortly after her dream.
God is using His word, His people, and His Spirit to move in incredible ways in these unreached places of the world. Will you join countless others during Ramadan to intercede for those who have never heard? We are asking God to move in miraculous ways, especially in Aceh, so many more may come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord. Ramadan begins on Sunday evening, March 10 and ends on Tuesday, April 9. Please go to Prayer for Aceh to sign up and receive prayer points each day during Ramadan.
*Indah’s story was published by Bridges of Hope, an organization of which The Fellowship is a partner.
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions,
and thanksgivings be made for all people. This is good, and
it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people
to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1, 3-4