Day 4
Japan
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for coming down to Earth as a human baby. You have experienced what it is like to be fully human. Thank you that You are familiar with what it feels like to be tempted, and yet You remained blameless. We praise You that we know You are not the one who tempts us; it is satan who does that. Please help the Christian Believers in Japan to know that You are not the originator of temptations, but that we can turn to You to help us defeat those temptations. We bless the Church in Japan to be pure and spotless, free from shame; to be overcomers (The Bible, James 1:13).
An archipelago of 6,852 islands, Japan has the world’s third-largest economy and is a major donor to world crises. Three-quarters of the nation’s population lives in big cities, together with one of the world’s most aging populations has resulted in specific needs in rural areas as young people all move to the cities in search of work. A strong traditional core has been flanked by a progressive younger generation valuing Western culture and ideas. Japan suffers from a high suicide rate, the leading cause of death for those under 30. Fewer than two percent are Christian; it is still one of the world’s most secular nations. Seventy percent of Japanese identify with no personal religion, although most adhere to Shinto and Buddhist customs. This year Japan was rocked by the assassination of former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, during a campaign speech. The election was won by the new prime minister, Fumio Kishida.

Day 4
Guinea-Bissau
Lord, we confess that although You have given us free will to choose right and do right, we fail at times yielding to temptations. We pray that the Churches in Guinea-Bissau will teach that the source of the temptation is in themselves. The fault is in the desires and the weakness of our human nature. Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. We pray that the Christian Believers will refuse to do evil and shun sin. We praise You Lord, for the good news is You can forgive sins because You have died for the entire human race (The Bible, James 1:14-15).
Guinea-Bissau is one of the world’s poorest countries. It relies on revenues from raising a cashew crop to feed most families, and its economy depends greatly on foreign aid. Umaro Sissoco Embalo is the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau since 27 February 2020. Nuno Gomes Nabiam is the Prime Minister since 28 February 2020. Outside of the agricultural sector, the government struggles to pay its workers. There are suspicions that the country aids the Latin American cocaine trade as the narcotic reaches Europe. Freedom of religion exists in Guinea-Bissau; however, an animistic Islam dominates the greater culture, particularly in the north and east. Christianity sees greater success in the south and coastal regions. The country has the sixth highest mortality rate in the world. Illicit drug trafficking has grown almost unchecked, as the government has no coast guard, police have no cars available, and the navy has no boats for patrolling the North Atlantic shores.
