Prayer Request 3/31 - 4/6

TuesdayChina is in the midst of a religious revival, and people will pay to visit holy sites. So the local government has​ set out to rebuild both Buddhist and Taoist temples, which were wrecked by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution, using these temples to attract tourists. Christians in China consider Taoists very resistant to Jesus and often give up trying to share the gospel with them. May the Lord give us a burning passion to share Jesus Christ and spread the seed of the gospel at every opportunity.​
Wednesday
The revival of traditional Chinese religions in China​ is partly due to ​a​ resurgence of faith and partly due to commercial interests. Local officials consider​ the​ rebuilding of temples as a way to boost their tourism income. ​We pray for all of the Buddhist and Taoist people who live near churches in China. May the Lord soften their hearts because of the love, caring lives, and good deeds of the Christians they see every day and may they have friendly relationships.
Thursday
Although scholars once distinguished between “philosophical Taoism” and “religious Taoism,” today most see the two strains as closely related. ​Taoist philosophy deeply influenced Chinese culture and their worldview. May the Lord give believers wisdom so they can discern and apply Biblical truths lest we become ignorant and consider traditional culture more important than our Christian faith.​
Friday
Taoist worshipers will often go to a service on important holy days or they might even go to a temple or hire a priest to come to their home to get help for a specific problem they face, such as illness, death, or even school exams or business meetings.​ We pray for wisdom for Christians as they share the gospel with Taoists that they will be able to clearly explain salvation through Jesus and especially what the Bible teaches about honoring our parents and worshipping ancestors.
Saturday
Usually the Taoist supplicants will pray to a deity, and the priest or nun will stage ceremonies to summon the god’s assistance. Many Taoists also engage in physical cultivation aimed at wellness and contemplation, like qigong breathing exercises or tai chi shadow boxing. Christianity is seen as a foreign religion in China, people turn to Taoism because it is a Chinese religion. We pray for salvation for our relatives and friends who are resistant and hostile to Jesus Christ, may they turn to His salvation very soon.
Sunday
​As China's only indigenous religion, Taoism's influence is found in everything from calligraphy and​ politics to medicine and poetry. Many Christians cannot distinguish between culture and Taoist beliefs. We pray for wisdom for believers not to engage in feng-shui, divination, and fortune telling.
Monday
After three decades of prosperity and the first significant period of relative stability in more than a century, the people​ in China are in the midst of a great awakening of religious beliefs.We praise God for the fantastic growth in the churches and pray the Lord will continue to give us numbers of saved people. We pray, too, that Christians will not lose their love for God in this time of prosperity.

星期二
中國正處於一個宗教復興的時期，人們願意花錢去朝拜廟宇。地方政府也重建在文革中被毀壞的廟宇和道觀。有些中國信徒會認為道教信徒很難相信主耶穌，就放棄向他們分享福音。求主賜我們有傳福音的熱忱，無論得時不得時，總是要多去撒福音的種子，並為福音對象擺上更多的禱告。
星期三
中國傳統宗教的復興，一部分是出於信仰，一部分則出於商業利益的考慮。修建宗教場所被一些地方官員視為發展旅遊經濟的契機。不少教會周圍都有拜佛或是道教的鄰居們，我們要特別為他們禱告。求神藉著信徒流露的愛心、關懷及好行為，軟化他們的心，也挪去他們對教會的不友善。
星期四
儘管學者們曾經嘗試把「道家」和「道教」區別開來，不過今天的大多數人仍然認為這兩者是緊密相聯的。道家的思想一直深刻地影響著中國傳統文化。求主賜智慧，教導我們按聖經真理分辨什麽是世俗和遺傳的小學，什麽是基督信仰裏不容混淆和妥協的原則，免得我過於注重或講究與神無關的理念。
星期五
道教徒經常在重要的宗教節日表達他們的虔誠，或是去道觀燒香跪拜，或是請道士到家裡幫助解決實際的問題，比如疾病、喪事，甚或是學校的考試及商務會議。求主幫助信徒在與信奉道教的人分享信仰時，能勇敢作見證，並有合宜的話語溝通，避免爭論；更能有力地將主耶穌的救恩講解明白。尤其在關於「孝敬父母」與「祭祖」這些議題上，辨析清楚。
星期六
當道教徒向某個神靈跪拜祈福時，通常會請道士或道姑在一旁做法事祈求神靈相助。許多道教信眾也從事和身心健康相關的練習及靜修，例如氣功或太極拳。在大多數中國人眼中，基督教是「洋教」，道教才是「中國本土信仰」。我們為信徒中有排斥主耶穌的親友禱告，求主軟化他們的硬心，讓他們經歷基督信仰的真實，看見要消除人的罪性，惟獨尋求主的拯救一途，且能得著永生。
星期日
作為中國唯一的本土宗教，道教對中國人生活的影響隨處可見，從書法、政治，到醫學和詩詞，幾乎無所不在。許多信徒無法分別何謂文化，何謂道教理念。求主賜智慧給信徒，在似是而非、黑白難分的世代裡，能分別為聖，做合神心意的人，不隨從各樣不合乎聖經真理的習俗，如觀風水、看相、算命等等。
星期一
中國人經歷了連續三十年的繁榮發展，在一個多世紀的時間裡第一次體驗到了相對的穩定，也開始重新思考宗教信仰的意義。我們為教會過去的增長感恩，求主繼續將得救的人數加添給教會，又保守信徒生活在豐富物質中，不失去單純愛主的心，在末世裡為主作一個得勝者。