Afghans jump the fence to get to the Nauroz pole, hoping to receive healing.

I have seen babies passed overhead from person to person, so that the baby can be lifted up to touch the pole to receive a special blessing, even from the back of this teeming mass of hundreds, if not thousands, of people. (And I wondered to myself, “How in the world will this baby ever find its mother again?”) Armed soldiers positioned to maintain order around the pole are, year after year, pushed out of the way as the pole is raised and the masses surge forward. It is an amazing sight.

One Afghan proverb says “the world lives on hope,” and it is on a wisp of hope that these people are forcing their way towards the pole. My heart yearns for them to come to realize that they are seeking hope in the wrong place. Jesus says, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Since only Jesus can bring life and true hope into these people’s lives, I pray that many of us will take the time to share that with our Muslim friends and neighbors, especially with those celebrating Nauroz this coming March 20.

Join with Christians around the world who are praying for 10 percent of the Muslim world to come to Christ in the next 10 years. This is a prayer request so big that it will take a miracle from God to answer. Thankfully, God is in the business of performing miracles!

• March 20 Nauroz celebrations might be greatly threatened and impacted by the coronavirus. May Christian workers have opportunities to share about Christ in every situation that develops. 
  

• Many Christian workers serve in countries with minimal health care available. Pray for protection, wisdom, calmness, and stamina as the coronavirus makes inroads into seemingly every country of the world. 
  

• Some Christian workers are being relocated because of the threat of the coronavirus, which is upending ministry. School attendance is being interrupted and causing a lot of stress in families. Pray for God’s peace that passes understanding to calm hearts and minds.
   



• Ask your Muslim friends and neighbors how you can pray for them in this upcoming New Year, and then do so right then and continue doing so for the rest of the year. Don’t forget to ask for updates along the way and new prayer requests going forward. 
  

• Pray for Christian workers who serve in the countries that celebrate Nauroz, that they might have opportunities to share about new life and hope in Jesus with their friends and neighbors during the celebrations this year. 

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