Having just returned from Beirut, Lebanon, the Shiite Muslim majority is on my mind. Shiites make up about 15 percent of all Muslims but are a majority in countries like Iran. (Sunnis are by far the majority worldwide). The most important ten days of the year for Shiite Muslims starts December 17th. Ashura is a time when Shiites all over the world remember the brutal death of one of their leaders in 680 AD. They’ll be meeting together every day and night. As Christ followers, let’s fast and pray for Shiites Dec. 17-26. God will hear our collective voice crying out to Him for Shiites.

Just Five years ago, mission workers said there weren’t any Shiite believers in their areas. Three years ago there was a handful of Shiites following Christ, and now there are many, many Shiites following Him Ashura is a most holy 10 day observance for Shiites (195 million) around the world.  It’s a period of 10 days of remembrance of their founder, Imam Hussein (Muhammad’s grandson), who was killed in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD.  Shiites go into deep mourning and sometime flagellate themselves in their grief.  While we celebrate this joyful time of God’s great gift to us through His Son, millions of Shiites will be mourning the death of Hussein.

Here’s how you can pray:

17th-Shiites are a people who fear God, but many of them fear evil spirits. Today pray that many Shiites will know the Son and will experience His power over the spirit world.

18th-Shiites place great importance on dreams and visions.  Ask the Father to give them dreams and visions that will help them follow the Son.

19th-On this 3rd day of Ashura, pray that when Shiites see the Son in a dream or vision, that they will be eager and bold to tell others about Him.

20th-Today pray that followers of the Son among Shiites will have spiritual wisdom and understanding. Ask that they will hear God’s voice and be prepared to do whatever He tells them, even if it means being, doing, or saying the uncomfortable or impossible.  Ask God to move believers – all of us – out of our comfort zones to reach more Shiites.

21st–Ask God to grow followers of the Son into men, women and children of faith who will live and share truth among Shiites in ways the Shiites can receive, despite the cost to them as His followers.

22nd–Pray that Shiites men will be devout and respected men of God who will lead their entire households and communities to fear God and to follow the Son.

23rd–Pray today that Shiites households will gather together to hear God’s Word and that they will hear, understand and tell the story of the Son in their homes and throughout their communities.

24th–Ask that Shiites religious leaders will hear the truth of the Word and will adhere to the teachings of the Son as their Supreme Leader and that Shiites communities will give their allegiance completely to the Son to emulate Him and follow His teaching.

25th-Whether through His spoken or written Word, through followers of the Son, or through a dream or miraculous healing, pray that Shiites will encounter the Son and follow Him.

26th-Shiites believe God forgives sins and answers prayers more readily on this day.  Please pray this prayer for Shiites and their communities:

Dear Father, You are the One who sent down Your Son to this blood stained earth to form a New Kingdom that is not of this world. We humbly ask You to reveal your Son to Shiites communities all over the world. We ask You to change Shiite’s mourning into dancing. Lead them from this season of great grief to passionately celebrate Your salvation.  All for Your Glory!

Here are some resources:

Download a ten-day prayer guide in five languages to print and share: http://www.shbride.blogspot.com/

Download a video and slideshow of Ashura:

http://www.cryoutnow.org/videogallery/index.html

Download stories of what God is doing among Shiites:

http://25minutes.org/

October 23, 1983 was a big deal in my hometown, a military town. I was nearly two months into my senior year of high school when news flashed through the community that 241 US servicemen, including 220 Marines had been killed in a suicide bombing in Beirut, Lebanon.

The bombing occurred at about the midpoint of the Lebanese Civil War that lasted 15 years (1975-1990). Images of smoldering rubble that moments before had been an apartment building seemed to be a staple on the nightly news. I became familiar with the term “Green Line,” but confess I never listened closely enough to know what it meant. Did any American? Would it have made a difference if we had? Lebanon seemed so far away and I watched from the safety of my home with relief that it was somebody else’s problem…Until that barracks was bombed. That single incident defined Beirut for me.

Driving down the Green Line yesterday I saw bombed out buildings standing as reminders of a war-torn nation. I did the math and realized if I’d been Lebanese I’d have probably been a fighter in that war. Having just turned 18 in Sept., 1983, I’m certain it would have been unavoidable unless of course I’d been in a family with means to leave. Most couldn’t.

The people of Beirut live with a looming stress of possible attacks from neighboring countries and possible outbreak of another civil war while dealing with the almost constant assassination of the country’s leadership since one of the more influential leaders was killed Feb. 14, 2006. The Green Line divided West (Muslim) and East (Christian) Beirut and drove the migration of people’s from one side to another. The war is over and the line is physically gone, but in many ways remains emotionally and mentally. For nearly three decades I’ve wondered what possible reason anyone could have that would warrant someone coming here.

Now that I’m here, I know: People. People warrant coming here.

Despite the uncertainty of life – or because of it – and the fatalism that consumes many Lebanese Shiites (the majority Muslim population here), are finding hope in Jesus. About His coming it was said by the Heralding Angel, “Peace on earth, goodwill among men. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Please pause and pray that many Shiites both in Lebanon and the millions around the world would know the peace of reconciliation with God. Pray that this Christmas season Good News of great joy will be proclaimed among THIS precious people and that God would bring many to faith.