Ramadan is the month of fasting to be observed by all Muslims around the world. Fasting from dawn until sunset, its a time of personal sacrifice and obedience to God. Its meant to be a time of expressing devotion and commitment to God and following His principles for life. Many believe that fasting during Ramadan and abstaining from all other sins during this month, living a holy life for this month, will cover the sins of the rest of the year.

For many years, I experienced that this month of Ramadan is a month when people around me become devout and holy, and therefore they become hard and closed to the Good News and any of my attempts to share with them during Ramadan tended to be ineffective.

In recent years, I have felt this change a little. There has been a softening, a greater openness. Perhaps its to do with Ramadan being in Summer when people are more relaxed in general, and enjoy the night life that Ramadan offers. But I suspect its more than that. I think there is a general softening across the Muslim world. God is at work and He is bringing in His harvest from within the Muslim world in unprecedented ways, like never before in all of history. Its a privilege to be around in this season of history!

This morning I was reading Psalm 51 and it struck me as a relevant Psalm to pray through this Ramadan. Have you ever tried praying through a passage of Scripture? Literally read one verse and turn it into a prayer and then move on to the next verse. After reading each verse, ask God, “How do I pray into that for Muslims in North Africa?”. It totally blessed me and I trust you will find the same.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.
For I recognise my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say and your judgement against me is just.
For I was born a sinner – yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
Because you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Oh, give me back my joy again, you have broken me – now let me rejoice.
Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.
Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you.
Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves, then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
Unseal my lips, O Lord, that my mouth may praise you.

You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit (a soft heart),
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit…