Prayer Fuel
April 15, 2023
Most Senegalese who’ve attend public schools can read and write French to some degree at least, so with a little effort they can learn to read the Bible in a local language in the Roman script. Those who have only attend Koranic schools can only read Arabic.
Ajami is the term used for writing any non-Arabic language using the Arabic alphabet. As Scriptures are finalized in Roman script, they can quickly be transliterated into Arabic script, making them more widely accessible to those who’ve attended Quranic schools.
For many Muslims the Arabic language is beautiful and sacred, and honor is given to local languages written in Arabic script. As Ajami Bibles get into the hands of everyday people, these books get passed around from person to person since the Arabic writing is so interesting to them.
Ajami scriptures are a kind of Trojan horse that get the Bible into places Roman script would never reach.
PRAISE
“You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.” (Psalm 77:14)
KINGDOM COME
(Laborers in the Vineyard) “For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.” (Matthew 20:1)
Lord, your ways are not our ways. We praise you for your generosity and mercy in offering forgiveness, and we pray that many Senegalese would enter your Kingdom, even up until the “last hour of the day.” Thank you for your patience with stubborn and slow-to-learn people like us!
PRAY THE BOOK OF ACTS
“So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.” (Acts 25:23)
Here Paul experienced Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:18, “and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.” In the same way, may Senegalese believers, when something like this happens, experience Jesus’ promise as it was for Paul, “do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given you in that hour.” (Matthew 10:19) Spirit of the Living God, would you make your comforting presence and power known when new Christians are pressured and badgered by unbelieving family members. Help them to speak words of truth in a spirit of love and grace.
PRAY THE HALL OF FAITH
“By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” (Hebrews 11:31)
Thank you, Lord, for the reminder that no one is too far lost from your saving grace—not national enemies, not prostitutes. We pray for Senegalese Muslims, no matter their good or bad reputation, to be given new identities in Christ through faith.
PRAYER
Lord, we pray your written Word will go out with power. May your Holy Word written in Arabic script “fall” into the influential hands of imams (mosque leaders) and Quranic teachers who can not only read it but will believe it and teach it to their own students disciples, leading them out of spiritual darkness into the glorious light of the gospel. Amen!
