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Under Pressure

8/6/2015

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Beloved,

"God gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves to God…
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

James 4:6-8


James writes about the faithfulness, reliability and justice of God, and about Christian consistency in response. His letter is full of promise and challenge. 

As he moves towards a conclusion, James brings Proverbs 3:34 into play to frame a solid declaration: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." With that reality in place, he call us to submit ourselves to him, resist the devil, and act on a wonderful promise: "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

It’s a promise treasured by Christians down the centuries, and loved especially by Christians under pressure - as so many of our friends in the Middle East are at the moment.

With Ramadan approaching, James' words also reach out to the house of Islam. Islam means submission to God. Ramadan, the fasting month, is the month where our friends and neighbours try to push back the work of the devil, making extra efforts to draw near to God. In the Middle East, tables of mercy appear in the streets to feed people far from home at break of fast and while the nights are full of feasting, extra time is spent in earnest prayer on top of the regular routines. 

As the moon is sighted on or around June 18th, let us pray with them. Let us ask God to draw near to them, to reveal himself to them, to surprise them by opening their eyes to the person and character and work of Jesus, who fully reveals the whole story and purpose of God in human form. 

As David Garrison’s remarkable research is shared throughout the UK this month, pray with the assurance that the wind of the Spirit is moving throughout the world. As we approach Ramadan in prayer, let us play our part in a movement that's going on all over the Muslim world.

30 Days of Prayer resources give you background and prompts for prayer. You can order the prayer notes at pray30days.org.

Events with David Garrison, author of "A Wind in the House of Islam" are co-ordinated by his publisher WIGTake. Click here for details.

David’s book is available to order from Christian bookshops, or buy online from here. 

This letter was taken from the June prayer letter of MECO

Peace,
Charl

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Peace in Syria 

2/6/2015

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Greetings in the name of Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Syrian Christians have requested continued prayer for peace in their land and for all affected by the ongoing violence, including Christian communities.

In February Middle East Concern requested prayer following the abduction by Daesh (so-called "Islamic State" or IS) of more than 230 Assyrian Christians and the capture of around 35 predominantly Assyrian villages along the Khabour River in Hassaka Governorate. On Tuesday 26th May two elderly women were released, possibly because they are in poor health. While 25 of those abducted have now been released, more than 200 remain unaccounted for. In recent days the Daesh militants have been driven out of the villages following a successful surge led by Kurdish forces. However, very few of those villagers who escaped are returning to their homes as they are fearful of unexploded ordnance and of continuing instability in the area.

On 21st May a Syrian Catholic Priest, Jacques Mourad, was abducted by unknown militants during an assault on the Mar Elian monastery near Homs. An associate of Fr Mourad, Deacon Boutros Hanna, was also reportedly abducted when he tried to intervene. According to the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate, Fr Mourad had refused to leave the monastery, saying "As the priest and pastor, I will never leave this place so long as there are people here, unless they hunt me down."

Syrian Christians ask us to pray that:
a.  the two elderly Christians recently released will know the Lord's comfort, healing and provision
b.  all those who are still abducted will know the Lord's presence and protection, and will be released soon
c.  those displaced from their homes will know the Lord's care and provision, and will be able to return soon
d.  violence will cease, peace will be restored and the clear rule of law will be applied equally for all in Syria
e. those responsible for the murder and abduction of innocent civilians will know the Spirit's conviction of sin, seek the Father's forgiveness and find new life in the Son

---------------------------------
Middle East Concern
www.meconcern.org
URL for this prayer request: http://www.meconcern.org/index.php/en/prayer-requests/878-syria-abduction-of-christians
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    Author

    Charl de Beer.
    Love Jesus; Love Coffee; Love People; Love to network.
    I am from Pretoria, South Africa

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