“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” – 2 Timothy 4:18
Nestled in the heartland of Myanmar, Mandalay is the nation’s second largest city and a yearly religious pilgrimage site boasting a large number of temples and shrines. Dozens have been killed in the recent months, both from military strikes and guerilla strikes. In the midst of this violence and chaos, a team of evangelists have been faithfully sharing the Gospel and caring for practical needs, touching the lives of hundreds of families with the hope of Christ. Thousands have been impacted for the Lord, and we have seen many salvations even in the midst of this violence!
1. Pray for continued boldness for evangelists in Mandalay and throughout the country, so that many more souls would be saved from God’s wrath.
2. Pray that Mandalay would no longer be known as a stronghold of Buddhism and violence, but a city filled with Christ-followers who serve the true and living God.
“Why, O Lord, do You stand far away?
Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, ‘There is no God.’
His ways prosper at all times;
Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
He says in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.’
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
Photo: Abby Beard
He says in his heart, ‘God has forgotten,
He has hidden His face, He will never see it.’
Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand!
Forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, ‘You will not call to account?’ But You do see, for You note mischief and vexation, that You may take it into your hands;
to You the helpless commits himself;
You have been the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till You find none.
The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from His land.
O Lord, You hear the desire of the afflicted;
You will strengthen their heart; You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
Psalm 10
