April 13 2023

PRAY THE PICTURE

Every day, we invite you into the ancient spiritual prayer practices of Lectio and Visio Divina. Each day you will be given a picture to meditate on in prayer, Visio Divina or “eating/digesting the image,” asking the Holy Spirit to prompt things from the image for you to pray into and to fill the image with spiritual meaning. Most of these visuals will connected to the concept of “Saturation” and will be connected to the insights included in each day’s prayer fuel.

We encourage you to start your prayer time each day by sitting in silence with the picture and listening for the Holy Spirit’s direction. It might also be meaningful to return to the image after you have read the additional pieces of the prayer fuel, using it to wrap up your time of intercession and giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak through it on even deeper levels. May you be blessed as you engage your Creator in visually inspired prayer.

PRAY WITH CULTURAL INSIGHT

It would be an easy mistake to assume that once the signal for eating goes off ending another Ramadan day of fasting, Moroccans seated around their tables immediately dive into a fully loaded spread and stuff themselves silly. But actually, this evening meal is something to be savored. Often, friends or family from out of town are visiting within this season, and the Ramadan, f’tour, or “breakfast” is served over several hours in four or five courses. Depending on the time of year, the first thing most often consumed is a tall glass of water—in many of these climates, fasting from water throughout the heat of the day is by far the most challenging part of the fast. After that, many men will hastily consume the customary glass of milk alongside three dates, and then rush off to the mosque for evening prayers.

Once they return, the family will share a large pot of traditional soup, or harira. Unlike many Western cultures that have a myriad of soup variations, Moroccan harira consists of the same basic ingredients across the country—tomato sauce, chickpeas, a small pasta, and copious amounts of parsley and cilantro. This soup is often accompanied by dates and figs or other dried fruits, and hard-boiled eggs with cumin and salt. An hour or more after the soup course, the main meal is brought out—often a meat tagine, served with vegetables and sauce and, of course, hot fresh bread. Moroccans also have their own sweet tooth, enjoying pastries and cookies that are unique to this season, like the Western tradition of Christmas cookies, where each family has their favorites, like the famous shebakia, a phyllo dough triangle, fried and soaked in honey. But the majority of their sugar is consumed in drink format, as the meal is rounded off with steaming cups of green tea, steeped with fresh mint. Once the meal has been eaten, many families take to the main gathering places in their neighborhoods to enjoy some late-night fellowship in the cool night temperatures, before returning home for a pre-sleep pastry and another glass of tea.

Although Moroccan f’tour is festive, delicious and very satisfying after a long day of fasting, nothing will bring eternal satisfaction like the table of the Lord. Only HE can “satisfy them with the bread of heaven” (Psalm 105:40). His Table is set for them—pray today that they choose to gather around it! Just as food appears on the table in new and different courses, cover those who are new to the faith today, as the revelation of God’s trust-worthy character and deep love for them comes to them in ever-deepening encounters with His Word and Spirit.

PRAY THE WORD 

Each day, as we engage the practice of Lectio Divina, “eating/digesting the Word,” the Scripture we will pray comes from a community of prayer from within Morocco that has been praying Saturation over Morocco.

Adjective: “Saturated”—holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed; thoroughly soaked
Noun: “Saturation”—the degree or extent to which something is completely absorbed

This group is daring to pray audacious prayers of saturation—asking for God’s Kingdom to come to Morocco to such an extent that it is completely absorbed in His truth, presence, and transformation. Keep this in mind as you pray these Scriptures and join with those who are already praying audacious prayers on behalf of Morocco. 

1 Thessalonians 1:5 “…our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.” 

Prophetically release the Word of God to go forth in great power, saturating Morocco with the revelation of the Holy Spirit and transformation of the Kingdom.

PRAY THE SONG

God, we believe that you are “on the move” and will bring revival to this land!  We are ready for more Lord…

“Prepare the Way” by Bethel Music