BTJ Prayer Guide for Syria: Day 20

The Next Phase of Prayer
For effective prayer, perhaps it is important that the next ten days focus on praying for the current projects in Syria and the Christians that are running them.
For the first ten days we prayed over Syria with the knowledge of what the history of Syria has looked like. Many Christians are surprised to find that Syria has an old Christian heritage that predates Islam.
The Syrian people did not convert to Islam by choice. They were forced. Like the Prophet Mohammad, the successive leaders of Islam conquered by the sword. In the year 635, the Rashidun army attacked the Eastern Orthodox Christians until Damascus surrendered.
The Muslims gave the Christians three choices – convert, pay jizya, or die.
Some chose death.
Some chose the jizya – which proved to be as bad as death.
Most converted to Islam.
History has shown us that the Syrian people chose Christianity but were forced into the slavery of Islam. The Syrian Muslims today did not choose Islam. It was forced upon them and is forced upon them still. In your prayers today, please remember that the Syrian people are victims of Islam.
The Christians missionaries and organizations that are there desperately need your prayers as they work to free the Syrian people. For the next 10 days, please remember these Christian workers and their efforts in Syria.
Prayer
May the Syrian people throw off the shackles of the false religion of Islam that has held them and their people in slavery for generations and may they find the Truth that has the power to set the captives free.
Scripture
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:6-7