Day 12
Uzbekistan
Father God, we declare over Uzbekistan today that there is only one God, and that You are the one who rules and reigns over all things. We know that even the demons recognize there is only one true God, so we speak that out over this nation, and ask that many people too will come to know and experience this truth and reality. We pray for Christian Believers to have a faith that is alive and demonstrated in the way they live. May their deeds point others to the truth and reality of Jesus Christ. We pray that when they pray in Jesus’ name there will be miracles, signs, and wonders. We pray that when they meet the felt needs of those around them, that these good deeds will point to Jesus and lead many to put their faith in You (The Bible, James 2:19-20).
The gateway from Asia to Europe, Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous country. The lucrative drug trade flows through this gateway, yet the country remains impoverished. Reforms in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry that have been gaining momentum since 2016 appear to have essentially eradicated the controversial child and slave labor linked to the annual cotton harvesting. The reforms have also improved relationships with other nations in the region and brought a bit more openness to the nation. Although it is a secular state promoting Islam, the government opposes Islamization. With an “iron fist,” Uzbek leaders control Islamic factions. With that same “iron fist,” Uzbek authorities target Christian Believers and limit freedom for church gatherings.

Day 12
Egypt
Lord, we pray for those who argue saying that they have faith and others have deeds. These are the people who think that faith and works can be separate from each other. Make them understand that You will not accept either faith or works because they cannot have one without the other. We pray for those boast about having faith without good works. Merciful God, we pray for Christian Believers who have faith in You to get into doing good works as evidence. Their true faith will be active in doing good works. We pray that millions of Egyptians struggling in life will gain faith in You and be real (The Bible, James 2:18).
Egypt stays in 35th position in the World Watch report 2023 by Open Doors for Christian persecution with a slight increase in overall opposition to Christians. The current president of Egypt is Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Mostafa Kamal Madbouly is the Prime Minister of Egypt, serving since 2018. Although Egypt’s government speaks positively about Egypt’s Christian community, the lack of serious law enforcement and the unwillingness of local authorities to protect Christians leave them vulnerable to all kinds of attacks. Due to the dictatorial nature of the regime, neither Church leaders nor other Christians are in a position to speak out against these practices. Christians of all backgrounds face difficulties in finding new places for communal worship. The difficulties come both from state restrictions, as well as from hostility and face mob violence. Christians from a Muslim background often have great difficulty in living their faith since they face enormous pressure from their families to return to Islam. The state also makes it impossible for them to get any official recognition of their conversion.
