Pray for Croatia

Croatia is nationalistically a Roman Catholic country. The Catholic Church has to be credited for providing a representation and visual presence of Christianity in the Croatian culture throughout the centuries. Although the atheist in the country discount the influence of the Catholic Church the fact is they still speak for a lot of Croatians.

Let us use the Cardinal’s Christmas message and the statements of senior state officials to guide our prayers for Croatia.

Christmas celebrated throughout Croatia

25. December 2011. | 18:29    

Christian believers adhering to the Gregorian calendar were celebrating Christmas throughout Croatia on Sunday to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, led Christmas Eve Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral in Zagreb on Saturday, telling the congregation to enjoy the nearness of God and not to be afraid.

"Our hearts are now illuminated by the Holy Spirit and we should not be afraid," the archbishop said. He invited the faithful to open themselves up to God because "God's love is among us."

"The history of humanity is in God's hands, or more precisely, in the very heart of God, even though sometimes it seems that it is run by the power-wielders of this world," Bozanic said.

Bozanic also led Christmas Day Mass in the Zagreb Cathedral, which was attended by senior state officials, including President Ivo Josipovic, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Parliament Speaker Boris Sprem.

Addressing reporters after the Mass, all three officials extended their best wishes for Christmas.

"These were messages of peace and unity. That is what we will need in Croatia, to respect ourselves and others, and have others respect us, to be together in these difficult times," Prime Minister Milanovic said. 

1)      Let us pray as the archbishop said, that hearts would be illuminated by the Holy Spirit and Croatians would not be afraid. Because of the economic situation, young adults are not sure of their future. Those that have saved for their security in their later days, now see that slipping away. Lord, may You take the fear away.

2)      The archbishop is trying to comfort the Croatian people by reinforcing the fact that the future is in God’s hands. He is making a statement to bring comfort. History shows that we are in God’s hands and He guards our destiny, not the “power-wielders of this world”. Lord, we recognize You have Croatia and its people in Your hands.

3)      Let us pray for a realignment of Trust in Croatia. May the Croatian people learn to trust in the Lord.

4)      So many in Croatia still look to the Catholic Church for hope. As evangelicals we tend to only see fault in the Catholic Church. So Lord, help us to pray for the Croatian Catholic priest and the archbishop, Cardinal Josip Bozanic. Lord, help them to minister Your heart to the people. Lord, use them for Your glory in the positions of leadership they have.

5)      The archbishop refers to the fact that the country is not only in God’s hands but in His heart. Let us pray that the Croatian people would truly be comforted by God’s heart. (I believe we can make a point of contact here. As we pray for Croatia, God will/is turning His heart to the people.)

6)      Prime Minister Milanovic, in his comments spoke of the need for peace and unity. He referred to the fact that peace and unity comes through respect; “…to respect ourselves and others, and have others respect us, to be together in these difficult times," Let us pray into what the PM has spoken here. Lord, let there be a return to honor. Let this start in the government. May the government officials respect the wishes of the people, may the people respect government officials as men and women positioned by God to keep peace.

The following verses are hard to swallow, especially when seeing corruption in our governments, but God promises peace.

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

I want to pull up two prayers we prayed this past October.

7)      Lord, You can make Croatia a blessing for Europe. Lord, may grace be poured out through all the institutions in the land. We pray that promotions would come to the Christians in the workplace.

8)      …pray for men and women of vision to also come forth this winter. Lord, bring out Your chosen ones. Open their eyes to see Your plan for Croatia. Release courage and assurance of their calling. Let them speak with authority to the demons that stand against the Lord’s plan.

Pray for Bulgaria


First I would like to invite you to visit Bulgaria’s capital city of Sofia by taking a Virtual Prayer Walk. http://pray4bulgaria.wordpress.com/virtual-prayer-walks/ If you do take this VPW you will learn of many things to pray about, not only in the city but throughout the country also. Bellow I have selected some highlights I think we should give extra prayer to.

Casinos are prominent throughout Sofia, offering an escape from daily life and the (false) promise of a quick financial gain.

1) Let us pray that the Lord would rescue many Bulgarians from the false hope the enemy offers. Gambling is a curse on any society. Let us pray that not only would these casinos fail but that the owners and workers would learn of the real hope the Lord offers.

2) It is sad to me as a Texan to know that “Texas Hold’em” is becoming a favorite tool of the enemy. Lord, we pray that You would command a blessing from Texas to Bulgaria.

3) Let us pray that a ministry will be raised up that concentrates on counseling and delivering Bulgarians from the gambling spirit.

We have prayed about this before but Let us again pray against corruption in government and in the marketplace.

4) Let us start by praying for righteous judges, men and women willing to stand up and do what is right.

5) Let us pray that the Mafia of Bulgaria would actually turn against itself. As they say “there is no trust among thieves”. May their empires fall apart due to infighting and a lack of trust.

6) The opposite of corruption is righteousness. Bulgaria needs revival and a return to Biblical truth. Lord, visit Bulgaria with humility followed by grace.

There are people in Bulgaria that are seriously praying for church growth. They have designed a church planting strategy that works to find “people of peace” to sew into.

7) Lord, we pray for these dear saints/intercessors that have been deeply burdened for their country. As they abide under Your wings, Lord, may they be blessed with intimate times spent in Your presence. Lead them to the people of peace.

8) We pray for these people of peace to be revealed. Let us pray that a hedge of protection will surround them and they will be delivered from the enemies grip.
Job 1:10 (KJV)
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

9) Let us pray for a day when every city and every village in Bulgaria has an evangelical body of believers.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Bosnia Herzegovina

Angelina Jolie, writer and director of the film “In the Land of Blood and Honey” is interviewed at the premiere in Los Angeles, Thursday, Dec. 8, 2011. - AP Photo


This film has two aspects that will draw movie goers. First, it was produced by Angelina Jolie, a well known movie star that has many fans. It is also the first feature film and directorial debut of actress Angelina Jolie Second, is the controversy surrounding the film. It is a story using as a back drop the 1990s war that tore apart Yugoslavia with Bosnia being one of the main battle grounds. Most of the controversy has been addressed and most critics have relented. Read more at, http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/bosnian-war-victims-praise-angelina-jolies-movie.html

1) Let us pray that positive results for Bosnia Herzegovina would come out of this film. Let us pray that there would be hope not more division.

2) As a result of this movie, let us ask the Lord to motivate Christian intercessors to pray with boldness for B-H.

The following is from a former prayer directive dated Aug. 2, 2010.

Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia, is home to 400,000 people, 95% of whom are nominally Muslim. It still bears the scars of the war that tore apart Yugoslavia in the 1990s; bullet holes and bomb damage mar many of the buildings. Although much of the city has been restored, the people have not forgotten what happened. When a Christian organization, Eurovangelism visited in July of 2010, they laid to rest 600 bodies that had been found in a mass grave, victims of the Srebrenica massacre. The theme of the memorial service was “Never Forget” and this is at the heart of the challenge faced by the church in Bosnia.

In Bosnia Herzegovina people never forget their ethnic identity - Bosnian Muslim, Catholic Croat or Orthodox Serb. Religion and nationality are indivisible and to become an evangelical believer means turning your back on your identity, rejecting your people and betraying the memory of all that has happened. Yet people are discovering new life in Christ and becoming a part of one of the 25 churches in the country. In a country of 3.8 million people there are maybe 700 evangelical believers spread around the country. They meet in churches of 20 - 30 people, with just three larger churches of 50 believers.

1. The Srebrenica massacre is truly a scar on Bosnia Herzegovina that will take time to heal. Let us pray that the Lord would especially minister to the victim’s loved ones. What the devil intended for evil and division may it be turned to good. May Srebrenica be a reminder to all three ethnic groups in B-H, Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, that war has innocent victims and peaceful solutions are worth extra efforts.

2. Let us pray that in Bosnia that to the “never forget” slogan would be added “but forgive”; “never forget, but forgive”. Those that forgive will be able to go on in life and defeat bitterness.

3. The report above says there may be 700 evangelical believers in the country, a country of almost 4 million people. This needs serious intercession. Pray that God would visit that country.

4. Let us pray for the Christians in B-H. May the Lord hold them in the faith and encourage their hearts. Lord, we ask for Your presence to be in their small gatherings.

5. Lord, send missionaries into Bosnia Herzegovina. Give them strategy to plant churches throughout the country. Break their hearts for this unevengelized land. Help them to learn the language.

6. There are different levels of missionaries; Let us pray for those that will renounce their present life and its comforts to truly go live with the people.

7. Lord, we pray that finances would be raised for the churches in B-H and the pastors and elders would know how to properly apply these monies toward the kingdom.

8. Let us pray for the city Sarajevo, the capital city of Bosnia Herzegovina. Ninety five percent Muslim is a curse that can stifle any city. The prayer is; Lord, give grace to the Christians that live there.

Oh, let your heart burn for Bosnia Herzegovina.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Albania

1.      Lord, we thank You for blessing Albania and letting freedom of worship come forth.

2.      We pray that when the saints assemble, the Holy Spirit would hover over them, releasing revelation, gifting and abounding faith.

3.      Lord, it has been a joy to pray for Albania. Come move in the hearts of Your intercessors, Lord. May they declare with boldness, “Let the Kingdom come forth in Albania”!

4.      Lord, we ask You to disable the enemy in Albania; cut off his power in the land. Lord, raise up a church that will kick the Devil’s gates down and demand their inheritance.

Paul wrote of how he had preached the Gospel in Illyricum, the ancient land of Albania.  (Romans 15:9)

5.      Let us pray that once again Albania would be visited by apostles and prophets of great faith. Lord, send men and women that are convinced You are ready to transform Albania.

6.      Let us also pray that the apostles and prophets that are sent will raise up evangelist, teachers and pastors. Even now Lord, separate these unto Yourself for the work of the ministry in Albania.

7.      Let us pray for the present churches in Albania. May the churches be motivated to reach out to the culture around them. Give them a plan to reach the lost.

The report is that 75% of Albanians in Albania don’t practice any religion and identify themselves as atheists or agnostics. This goes for the Muslims in the country also and is why they drink alcohol and eat pork. At one time (around 1960) the Marxist government declared Albania the only completely atheist country. Many decades before communism, a Nothern Albanian poet, Pashko Vasa remarked, “Churches and mosques you shall not heed / The religion of Albanians is Albanism”.

8.       Let us pray for a plan to reach the Muslims of Albania. Lord, since the Muslim respects dreams and visions, we pray that You would speak to them in this way. Prepare their hearts for those You will send to love them.

9.       Lord, we believe You are reversing the curse of this poet. Break the power of the enemy to keep these people in bondage to a false nationalism.