30 Days of Prayer for Muslims: Ramadan 2026

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. For the next 30 days, I'm asking you to join me in something powerful—prayer for the Muslim people. Prayer that God would move mightily among them, showing them His love and His salvation, and that they might come to know Jesus as their Savior.

Why now? Because of Ramadan.

[What is Ramadan?]

Muslims throughout the world will observe Ramadan beginning tomorrow evening, February 17, and continuing through March 19. During these 30 days, they will fast during daylight hours in an effort to break bad habits and seek forgiveness of sins.

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide with dawn-to-dusk fasting. This provides them with an opportunity to practice one of the "obligations" (also known as the "five pillars") of their religion—sawm, or fasting.

Muslims fast during Ramadan because they believe this is the time of year in which the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, received "recitations" from the angel Gabriel. These were later compiled to form the Qur'an.

[The Night of Power - Laylat al-Qadr]

The most important night of Ramadan—and of the entire Islamic year—is called Laylat al-Qadr. In 2026, this "Night of Power" is expected to fall around March 14-15 (it's traditionally observed on one of the odd-numbered nights in the last ten days of Ramadan). It is described in the Qur'an as being "better than a thousand months" (97:3).

"Any action done on this night," writes one Islamic scholar, "such as reciting the Qur'an, remembering Allah, etc., is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the Night of Qadr."

During Ramadan, especially on the Night of Power, Muslims "ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds." Many are desperately and genuinely seeking to be cleansed from their transgressions and find favor with God.

[Why Christians should pray during Ramadan]

This is why Christians should be praying! During Ramadan, millions of Muslims are spiritually hungry, seeking God with unusual intensity. They want forgiveness. They want cleansing. They want to know God.

But Islam cannot give them what they're looking for. Only Jesus can forgive sins. Only Jesus can cleanse us from unrighteousness. Only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

Since 1993, Christians all over the world have been setting aside the thirty days of Ramadan to pray specifically for Muslims. For intercessors, this month-long observance is a chance to see precious souls set free from spiritual bondage and introduced to the Savior of all mankind: Jesus Christ.

[The scope - who are we praying for?]

Let me give you a sense of who we're praying for. There are approximately 2 billion Muslims in the world today—about 25% of the global population. Islam is the world's second-largest religion and the fastest-growing major religion.

Muslims live in virtually every country on earth. The countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia (over 230 million), Pakistan (over 220 million), India (over 200 million), Bangladesh (over 150 million), and Egypt (over 100 million). Significant Muslim populations also exist throughout the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and increasingly in Europe and North America.

The vast majority of Muslims have never had a Christian friend, never read the Bible, and never heard the Gospel explained clearly. Many live in countries where converting to Christianity is illegal and can result in imprisonment or death.

[How God is moving among Muslims]

But here's the exciting news: God is moving powerfully among Muslims! More Muslims have come to faith in Christ in the last 25 years than in the previous 14 centuries combined. Missiologists report that the Muslim world is more open to the Gospel than ever before.

How is this happening? Through dreams and visions, through satellite TV and internet, through the witness of Christians, through Bible translation, and through prayer. Many Muslim-background believers report that Jesus appeared to them in dreams during Ramadan, when they were seeking God most intensely.

Organizations working in the Muslim world report thousands of conversions every year. Underground churches are growing in Iran, Algeria, and other historically resistant countries. Former Muslims are being baptized and discipled, even at great personal risk.

[How to pray during Ramadan]

So how should we pray during these 30 days? Let me give you some specific focuses.

First, pray that Muslims would have encounters with Jesus—through dreams, visions, Scripture, or the witness of believers. Many Muslims have reported that Jesus appeared to them and invited them to follow Him.

Second, pray for spiritual hunger and dissatisfaction with Islam. Pray that as Muslims fast and seek forgiveness, they would realize that their efforts cannot cleanse them—only Jesus can.

Third, pray for Christians living in Muslim-majority countries to be bold and faithful witnesses. Pray for their protection and for divine appointments with seeking Muslims.

Fourth, pray for Muslim-background believers who face persecution from family and community. Pray for their faith to remain strong and for them to find fellowship with other believers.

Fifth, pray for the Night of Power specifically (around March 14-15). Pray that as Muslims seek God with unusual intensity, the true God would reveal Himself to them.

Sixth, pray for Bible translation and distribution into languages spoken by Muslims. Millions still don't have Scripture in their heart language.

Seventh, pray for missionaries and ministries working among Muslims. Pray for wisdom, protection, and fruitfulness.

[Resources for prayer]

There are excellent resources to help you pray during Ramadan. The 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World network (30daysprayer.com) produces an annual prayer guide with daily focuses on specific Muslim people groups, countries, and topics. I highly recommend getting their 2026 guide and using it throughout Ramadan.

Other organizations like Frontiers, Pioneers, and the International Mission Board also produce Ramadan prayer resources. Find one that works for you and commit to praying daily during these 30 days.

[A call to action]

My focus in my podcasts for the next 30 days will be on Muslims—who they are, how God is moving among them, and how we can pray for them. I'll be sharing stories, statistics, and prayer points to help you intercede effectively.

Please pray for them during this time. God loves Muslims just as He loves you and me. He has a plan for their lives. Jesus died for them just as He died for us. And God will work in their hearts as we pray for them.

Imagine what could happen if millions of Christians around the world committed to praying for Muslims during Ramadan! Imagine the dreams and visions, the divine appointments, the spiritual breakthroughs! This is spiritual warfare at its most strategic—praying for those who are actively seeking God but don't yet know Jesus.

[Closing prayer]

Let me pray to launch us into these 30 days:

Thank you for joining me in this vital prayer initiative. The next 30 days could change lives for eternity. Will you commit to praying daily for Muslims during Ramadan 2026?

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and pray for the Muslim world!

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Missions Should Not Come First: The Real Source of Lasting Passion

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to share something personal—something about why I do this podcast and write about missions. And I want to challenge an idea that might surprise you: Missions should not come first in your heart.

Wait—isn't this a missions podcast? Haven't I been encouraging you to care about unreached peoples, to support missionaries, to go to the nations? Yes! But today I want to talk about what actually sustains that passion long-term, because I've learned something important through my own journey.

Let me start with a question I've asked myself many times: What is the purpose of this podcast? Why do I spend my limited time creating content that only a handful of people may ever hear?

Does it stem from all that I read about the horrible things happening in this world? Does it stem from the thought, the belief, that I can make a difference—that I, through my words, can somehow cause a listener to take action, to do something about the lost in this world?

No. The reason I do this is obedience and a desire to see His glory.

[What I really want]

I want to see God's glory. I want to see His Kingdom come to this earth. I want to be a part of what He is doing and to let everyone I can know about it!

But here's what I've learned: I'm not going to change one heart, one mind about the Great Commission and what our involvement should be. Only God can do that.

So what is it, ultimately, that will cause our mission focus to grow? Is it an increase in compassion and commitment for the lost in the Christian's heart? Is it an increase in information about the lost and encouragement to share Christ with them? Is it sharing statistics and stories about the plight of those without Jesus?

None of these.

[The real source of lasting passion]

I believe it only comes through the Holy Spirit intensifying our passion and love for Christ so that His heart's passion becomes ours as well.

Here's the key: Jesus must be first in our hearts, not missions.

When He is first, He will "break our hearts for what breaks His," and missions will become an intense passion. But if we try to put missions first—if we try to manufacture compassion for the lost without first deepening our love for Christ—we will burn out. I know because I've been there.

[My own journey - from despair to hope]

Let me be honest about my own journey. When I first started learning about unreached peoples, persecuted Christians, orphans, and human trafficking, I was overwhelmed. I focused on all the needs, all the hurts, all the atrocities done to others in the world. The sadness, despair, and depression of the situation became crushing.

There were times I was very discouraged by all that I was learning. The statistics were staggering. The suffering was unimaginable. And I felt so small, so helpless against such massive problems.

Our human compassion can only take us so far before burnout sets in. Compassion fatigue is real. If you focus only on the darkness, the darkness will swallow you.

[The turning point - refocusing on God]

But as I grew closer to the Lord—spending time daily with Him in prayer and Bible study, constantly asking Him to make my heart more like His—He began to refocus my thoughts toward Himself rather than on the world.

I began to realize that the way to call people to mission concern is not to focus entirely on all the bad. People usually know the bad. They see the news. They know the world is broken. But they often have no idea about all the good that God is doing in the world!

I began to see that the Bible doesn't focus on the bad so much as it focuses on God! Yes, Scripture acknowledges evil and suffering. But the overwhelming message is about who God is, what He has done, and what He will do.

[The example of Christmas]

Think about when Jesus was born. People in Judea already knew about the bad. They were living under Roman occupation. They faced poverty, injustice, and oppression. They didn't need angels to tell them about the bad.

Instead, the angels gave them "good news of great joy which will be for all the people" (Luke 2:10). Good news from God was the message—and it should still be the message today!

Jesus won the victory on the cross! Our salvation is sure and His Kingdom will not be shaken (Hebrews 12:28). We are not fighting the battles on our own. God is fighting the battles and asking us to join Him.

[A different kind of motivation]

When we focus on God's glory and His Kingdom rather than all the horrible problems in the world, something shifts. We cease to look at missions as our arduous responsibility and instead see it as God's responsibility—and God is more than able!

This type of focus, rather than depressing us and overwhelming us with sorrow, strongly encourages us to seize the hope set before us—"a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:18-19).

It's not up to us and our meager efforts. God is inviting us to join with Him in pursuing His purpose in the world. He is the One who sets the agenda, grants the wisdom to proceed, and gives the strength to endure.

This is God's world. His battle. His victory.

[From duty to delight]

With this type of motivation, something beautiful happens. As theologian Tim Dearborn writes, "Participation in God's mission is no longer a somber duty. It becomes a joyous privilege and an adventure of passion and hope."

Do you hear the difference? Not somber duty—joyous privilege! Not overwhelming responsibility—an adventure of passion and hope!

When Jesus is first in your heart, missions flows naturally from that love. You don't have to manufacture compassion for the lost—it grows from your love for Christ. You don't have to guilt yourself into caring about unreached peoples—you care because you love the One who loves them.

[The danger of focusing on storms]

Remember Peter walking on water? As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked. But when he looked at the storms—the wind, the waves, the impossibility of his situation—he began to sink.

The same is true for us. If we look at all the "storms"—the horrible things happening in our world, the billions who don't know Christ, the suffering of the persecuted church, the plight of orphans—we will begin to sink in sadness, weariness, and despair.

But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, when we understand the promises of Scripture and look for His hand in history and our modern times, we will see that the Kingdom of God is advancing—and God is calling us to be part of it.

[Compassion alone won't sustain you]

Here's a hard truth: Compassion for people—for the lost, for orphans, for the persecuted church—is not what will ultimately compel and motivate us for mission. Only our hope for God's glory and His Kingdom will cause us to endure.

Compassion is good! It's right to feel compassion. Jesus felt compassion for the crowds. But compassion alone will burn you out. The needs are too great. The suffering is too vast. Your compassion will run dry.

But hope in God's glory never runs dry. The promise that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord—that never gets old. The vision of Revelation 7:9, with people from every nation, tribe, people, and language worshiping around the throne—that sustains you when compassion fatigue sets in.

[Practical application - how to reorder your heart]

So how do we put Jesus first and let missions flow from that? Let me give you some practical steps.

First, prioritize your relationship with Christ above your activism for Christ. Spend time with Him daily in prayer and Scripture before you spend time doing things for Him. Abide in the vine before you try to bear fruit.

Second, when you read or hear about suffering in the world, don't stop there. Ask God to show you what He is doing in the midst of it. Look for the good news, the advancing Kingdom, the victories He is winning.

Third, meditate on God's promises about His Kingdom. Read passages like Psalm 2, Isaiah 11, Revelation 21-22. Let the certainty of Christ's victory anchor your soul.

Fourth, worship regularly. Singing praise to God reorients your heart toward His glory. It reminds you that this is His world, His battle, His victory.

Fifth, serve from overflow, not obligation. If you're burned out on missions, that might be a sign that you've been running on compassion instead of hope. Return to the Lord. Let Him refill you. Then serve from that overflow.

[The good news about missions]

Here's the good news: When your motivation shifts from compassion to hope in God's glory, you actually become more effective, not less. You have more energy. You have more joy. You have more endurance. You're no longer carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders—because it was never yours to carry.

God is inviting you to join Him. He's not dumping responsibility on you and walking away. He's fighting the battle and inviting you into the victory. What a privilege!

[Closing challenge]

So here's my challenge: If missions has become a somber duty for you, if you're overwhelmed by the needs and burning out on compassion, stop. Return to Jesus. Fall in love with Him again. Let Him become first in your heart.

And then watch what happens. As you love Him more, you'll love what He loves. As you treasure His glory, you'll long to see it spread to all peoples. As you hope in His Kingdom, you'll want everyone to be part of it.

Missions should not come first. Jesus should come first. And when He does, missions becomes an adventure of passion and hope.

[Closing prayer]

Let me pray: 

Thank you for joining me today. I pray this reorients your heart the way it reoriented mine.

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on Jesus, and the nations will follow.

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The Challenge of the Cities: God's New Frontier for Missions

Hello, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to talk about something that challenged me deeply and might make some of you uncomfortable—including me! It's about cities. Big cities. Megacities. The crowded, noisy, dirty, overwhelming urban centers that many of us would rather avoid.

I'll be honest—I'm not naturally a city person. I grew up on the outskirts of Los Angeles, and our family lived in Seoul, South Korea—the heart of what was then the world's fifth-largest city. I don't find cities exciting and pulsing with energy like some people do. Instead, I find them crowded, dirty, loud, sometimes crime-ridden, and—did I mention crowded?

But I'm asking God to change my outlook, especially after studying an article by missiologist Roger S. Greenway called "The Challenge of the Cities." What he says is so important that I need to share it with you, even though it convicts me. Because here's the truth: Whether we like cities or not, that's where God is moving, and that's where the harvest is waiting.

[The reality - cities are the new frontier]

Greenway writes: "Cities are the new frontier of Christian missions. Because of their size, influence, diversity, and needs, cities present enormous challenges. To neglect cities would be a strategic mistake, because, as cities go, the world goes."

Think about that! As cities go, the world goes. Cities are the centers of political power, economic activity, communication, scientific research, academic instruction, and moral and religious influences. Whatever happens in cities affects entire nations. When Christ's kingdom advances in cities, the number of people worshiping and serving the true God multiplies exponentially.

[The migration - largest in human history]

Over the last several decades, the world has witnessed the largest population movement in history—migration from rural areas to cities. When Greenway wrote in the 1990s, this was already happening. But it's accelerated dramatically since then.

In America, we think we have large cities—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago. But we're only the tip of the iceberg! Let me give you some statistics about cities in 2025 that will blow your mind.

[The megacities - 2025 statistics]

According to current data, there are now over 40 megacities—cities with populations exceeding 10 million people. Here are some of the largest:

Jakarata, Indonesia with 42 million recently surpassed Dhaka, Bangladesh with 37 million and Tokyo, Japan at about 33 million people. New Delhi, India is close behind at 30 million. Shanghai, China has 29 million. Guangzhou, China, where we finalized our oldest daughter’s adoption, has 37 million and to round out the top ten…Cairo, Egypt; Manila,. Philippines, Kolkata, India and Seoul, South Korea. 

The next largest are - Karachi, Pakistan, Beijing, China, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Bangkok, China and then we finally get to a US city - New York with about 21.8 million. By 2030, the UN projects there will be 48 megacities.

[The poverty and suffering - unprecedented need]

Now here's the heartbreaking part. As Greenway writes: "Some of the worst suffering is found among people who have recently arrived in cities." The slums of New York and Los Angeles—as difficult as they are—pale in comparison to what you find in Dhaka, Karachi, New Delhi or Kolkata.

We're talking about massive urban slums where millions live in grinding poverty, without adequate water, sanitation, healthcare, or education. Children grow up in conditions we can barely imagine. Disease, crime, exploitation, hopelessness—these are daily realities for hundreds of millions of urban poor.

And these numbers are growing every single day as more people migrate from rural areas hoping for a better life in the city.

[The opportunity - unprecedented openness]

But here's where it gets really interesting—and this is what convicted me. Greenway writes: "Yet, God is and can do tremendous works in these cities if we will only walk in obedience to where He is calling the Church, because there is an openness to the Gospel in the cities."

Listen carefully to this insight: "As a general rule, people who are recently dislocated (which describes a large part of megacities where the population continues to grow as people from the country move to the city), and are experiencing major changes in their lives, are more open to the Gospel than they were before."

Think about it! When people move to a new city, they're uprooted from their traditional communities, their family networks, their religious structures. Everything is new and overwhelming. They're searching for meaning, for community, for hope. And in that searching, they're more open to new ideas—including the Gospel!

[God's strategy - bringing people to the Gospel]

This is brilliant! Greenway writes: "God is behind the migration of masses of people to the cities, allowing the people He loves to journey to a place where they will be more open to hearing about Him, if only people will tell them."

God is orchestrating this! He's creating new opportunities for spreading the Gospel among unreached people coming from remote towns and villages. Through urbanization, God is drawing people from every race, tribe, and language to places where they can be reached with the Gospel.

[The missionary advantage - multiple people groups in one place]

And here's what really hit me—and this changed my entire perspective on urban missions. Greenway writes: "Missionaries, instead of going to a remote rural location to reach an unreached people group, can go to cities where there are representatives from thousands of people groups, representatives that because of their difficult lifestyles are more open to the Gospel than they might have been while living in their rural homes."

Do you see the genius of this? Instead of a missionary spending years learning a language, trekking to a remote village, and trying to reach one isolated people group, they can go to a megacity and find representatives from hundreds or even thousands of people groups all in one place! And these people are more open to the Gospel than they would be back in their villages!

In cities like Dubai, London, New York, Singapore, or Bangkok, you can meet people from almost every nation on earth. A missionary in one city can potentially reach dozens of unreached people groups!

[The challenge - we need workers in cities]

But here's the problem, and Greenway doesn't sugarcoat it: "But it takes sacrifice on many believer's hearts to go to the cities. Traditionally, most mission work was done in rural areas. In the past, that made sense because most people lived in rural communities. But the biggest challenge is now in cities, and there we find a shortage of workers."

Why the shortage? "Many missionaries are so disturbed by the noise and traffic in cities, the pollution, social problems, crime and crowded housing, that they prefer working in rural areas."

This convicted me! I'm one of those people who prefers rural areas. I'd much rather minister in a quiet village than a chaotic city. But Greenway challenges us: "Unreached villages certainly need to hear the Gospel. But in view of the masses of unsaved and unchurched people in cities, more attention must be given to urban centers."

[Biblical precedent - God's heart for cities]

And this isn't just practical strategy—it's biblical! God's heart for cities runs throughout Scripture. Urban missions began with Jonah being sent to Nineveh, one of the great cities of the ancient world. Much of Christ's ministry was done in the poor urban conditions of Jerusalem. And the missionary strategy of Paul was completely urban!

Paul didn't go to remote villages. He went to cities—Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, Rome. He planted churches in urban centers, knowing that the Gospel would spread from those cities to the surrounding regions.

[The question - will we go where we're needed?]

Greenway's challenge is pointed: "Our response should not depend on whether we prefer to live in cities or not. As it was for Jonah, and no doubt for Paul, the question is whether we will go where workers are needed and where God wants us to go."

That's the question for each of us. Not "Do I like cities?" but "Is God calling me there? Are workers needed there?" And the answer to that second question is an overwhelming yes!

[Current statistics - the urgency today]

Let me give you some updated statistics that show the urgency. As of 2025:

• About 57% of the world's population lives in urban areas—that's 4.4 billion people
• By 2050, that number is projected to reach 68%—about 6.7 billion people
• 90% of this urban growth is happening in Asia and Africa
• About 1 billion people live in urban slums
• Many megacities have less than 2% evangelical Christian population

Think about Dhaka, Bangladesh—42 million people, and it's overwhelmingly Muslim with only a tiny Christian minority. Or New Delhi, India—30 million people, mostly Hindu, with vast slums where millions have never heard the Gospel. Or Lagos, Nigeria—21 million people, growing so fast that infrastructure can't keep up, with both Christian and Muslim populations but also millions who've never heard a clear Gospel presentation.

These are fields white for harvest! And they're not in remote jungles—they're in cities with airports, where you can get a Starbucks, where internet is available. Yet they're desperately unreached!

[Practical application - what can we do?]

So what do we do with this information? Let me give you five practical steps.

First, change your perspective on cities. Stop seeing them as places to avoid and start seeing them as strategic mission fields. Ask God to give you His heart for cities, for the masses of people living there in physical and spiritual poverty.

Second, pray for urban missions. Pray for missionaries serving in megacities. Pray for church planters in slums. Pray for evangelists reaching multiple people groups in one city. Pray that God would raise up more workers willing to go to cities.

Third, support urban missions financially. There are great organizations doing urban church planting, slum ministry, and outreach to internationals in global cities. Give to support this work!

Fourth, consider going on a short-term mission trip to a megacity. Experience urban missions firsthand. You might be surprised—God might call you to long-term urban ministry!

Fifth, if you live in or near a city, look around! Your city probably has immigrants from dozens of nations. You can do cross-cultural missions without leaving home! Reach out to refugee communities, international students, immigrant neighborhoods. The nations have come to our cities—will we reach them?

[Closing prayer]

Let me pray: 

Thank you for joining me today. I hope this has challenged you as much as it challenged me. The cities are God's new frontier for missions—will we join Him there?

Until next time, remember—keep your eyes on the nations, and don't forget that many of those nations are now gathered in cities!

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