Day 8
Iran
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we lift up the nation of Iran to you today. There are many people in this nation who are distressed. There are also many people who have turned their backs to Islam as a religion that doesn’t offer anything to hope for. Your word tells us that the religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. We pray that those who do know Jesus, will be wonderful examples of this love and compassion. We pray that those who don’t yet know Jesus, will recognize the pollution that comes from Islam, and instead turn to seek Jesus (The Bible, James 1:27).
Formerly known as Persia, Iran retains its identity as one of the greatest empires of the ancient world. They have maintained their language, culture, and Shia interpretation of Islam. In recent years there has been an increasing internal divide between hard-line and moderate Muslims. Internationally backed US sanctions have taken a significant toll on the economy resulting in protests on the street and greater dissatisfaction with the Islamic clerics. Protests were brutally squashed, only fuelling the tensions. The COVID-19 virus has ravaged the nation, further exposing the government to criticism, however, elections that took place this year returned a hard-line government to power. The evangelical church has continued to see incredible growth. House churches carry great influence and their growth has resulted in ongoing arrests and restrictions on Christians.
Day 8
Burkina Faso
We pray for the poor people struggling for survival in Burkina Faso. Let all these dear brothers and sisters place their faith in You. We pray that they accept they need not depend on what they are or the things that they own but depend on You. We thank You Lord for choosing the people in the world think that they are poor. You chose those whom people in the world considered poor to be rich in faith. We pray for the Churches to accept both rich and the poor alike and set an example for others. We pray that they declare that You have chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom You promised those who love You (The Bible, James 2:5).
Burkina Faso moves to 23rd position in the World Watch report 2023 by Open Doors for Christian persecution. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba is the interim president. sworn in on 16 February. On March 1, 2022. Burkina Faso is Africa’s fourth largest gold producer. It has so much potential, but the country also has the world’s fourth-lowest rating on the UN’s human development index. The country continues to struggle economically as well as with corruption. Disease, malnutrition, and low education levels are major issues. Freedom does exist in religion. In the Sahel region, Islamist extremist groups have a huge and growing influence. Jihadist violence has been rapidly increasing in recent years and militants have taken control of large parts of the eastern region. This has led to numerous attacks on Churches and hundreds of Church closures.
