April 12 2022

PRAISE

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things” (Psalm 107:8-9)

PRAY WITH CULTURAL INSIGHT 

Believe it or not, a lot of eating happens during Ramadan (just during the nighttime hours). The uniqueness of coming around the table in Moroccan culture is beautiful. Families and friends gather around a round table so that everyone has easy reach to the common plate in the middle. As they tear off a piece of khobs (bread), they reach to dip it into the communal plate for their share of the delicious meal before them. You may never be encouraged to eat more at a meal than if you have the privilege to sit at a Moroccan table. It is the job of the hosts to encourage you to keep eating. “Koul, koul” (“Eat, eat”), they repeatedly say as they push more food your way, making sure you have the choice pieces of meat in your section of the communal plate. They are so persistent in their desire for you to keep eating, that you fear you’ll offend them if you don’t! Needless to say, you end the meal with a very full stomach and satisfied taste buds!

In Matthew 14, Jesus fed hungry people. Matthew tells us that they ate to their satisfaction and then the disciples picked up 12 basketfuls of leftovers. Jesus didn’t just provide enough to fill their hunger, he provided more than enough to fill their hunger. Pray today that Moroccans would encounter the Jesus who is more than enough to fill their emptiness and satisfy their souls. And for all the Believers in Morocco who have the Bread of Life, that they would offer it with equal levels of enthusiasm.

PRAY THE BOOK OF ACTS 

“And when He had said these things, He took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all He broke it and began to eat.” (Acts 27:35)

Lord Jesus, as You revealed Yourself not only as the Bread of Life while you were alive, but also the Bread torn to give Life in Your death, may Moroccans who hunger be satisfied with the knowledge that it is Your life and death that takes the longing from our souls. As they experience the physical hunger and thirst of fasting this month, may it drive many to encounter the only One who fulfills their soul’s needs.

PRAY FOR SATURATION

If there is any saying of Jesus that Moroccan Muslims might be able to agree with about who He is, it’s “I am the Bread of Life.” Moroccans understand that bread is life. Bread is eaten with breakfast, lunch and dinner. And it’s baked fresh every day. Each woman has her tried and true favorite recipe for the dough, and every kitchen churns out a slightly different shape or size even from day to day, but all dough rounds find their way to the community oven, where they are baked in hot furnaces of open flames. In fact, the bakery and the local water fountain are often found in the heart of every given neighborhood. Bread serves not just to fill out a meal, but it also functions as the utensil, and is regularly dipped into various soups, scoops up sauce rich in spices, and is slathered with a delightful array of condiments, but the base of almost any Moroccan dish is rich, fresh olive oil.

As we pray saturation over the country of Morocco, we are asking that’s God’s healing presence would completely coat the wounds and vulnerable places in each Moroccan heart like oil saturates bread as it is dipped. Ask that dry and crusty hearts would soak up the personal reconciliation that Jesus offers us and be transformed. 

WORSHIP 

God, we worship You because You are the only One who can satisfy our hunger…

“Hungry” by Kathryn Scott