EPISODE DESCRIPTION: Ramadan starts February 19, 2026—and this is one of the most strategic times of the year to engage with your Muslim friends. For 30 days, Muslims fast from sunup to sundown. No food. No water. No smoking. No swearing. And MORE praying, MORE reading, MORE giving, MORE openness to spiritual things. So why not join them in their spiritual quest, in our own way? In this episode, I'm starting with "Ramadan for Dummies"—a simple explanation of what Ramadan is and how your Muslim friends actually experience it. Then I'm sharing three practical ways YOU can be intentional during this sacred month: pray, fast, and party. Whether you have one Muslim friend or you're surrounded by them in your neighborhood, this episode will give you specific, actionable ideas for how to deepen your friendships and open doors for spiritual conversations during Ramadan. This isn't theoretical. These are things I've done myself—from fasting with my Afghan refugee friends to hosting an Iftar picnic by the pond in my neighborhood. And I'm inviting you to do them too. IN THIS EPISODE: RAMADAN FOR DUMMIES: What It Is and How Muslims Experience It ✔️ Ramadan 2026 dates: February 19 - March 19 (30 days determined by moon sightings) ✔️ What fasting looks like: No food, water, sex, smoking, or swearing from sunup to sundown ✔️ What increases: Prayer (5 times daily), reading the Quran, giving to the poor, spiritual openness ✔️ Why this matters: Muslims are more spiritually sensitive during Ramadan than any other time ✔️ How your friends experience it: Community, celebration, spiritual devotion, and exhaustion THREE WAYS TO BE INTENTIONAL DURING RAMADAN: PRAY: If they can pray every day for a whole month, we can pray once a day for 30 days What to do: Order the 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World booklet (adult or kids version)Keep it on your kitchen counter—read one page after dinner every night for 15 minutesAlternative: Sign up for Frontiers USA email series for daily stories and prayer promptsOptions: "Searching for a Father" (fictional family experiencing Ramadan), "Hidden Treasures" (cultural objects central to Muslim life), "All Things" (themed prayer series) Why this matters: Your prayers fill the golden bowls that are the prayers of God's people (Revelation 5:8)Smoke from those prayers fills the temple in heavenly places (Isaiah 6:4-7)If ALL of us prayed for Muslims EVERY DAY for 30 days, imagine the impact FAST: If they can fast for a whole month, we can fast for ONE day What to do: Pick one day during Ramadan to fast exactly like Muslims doWake before dawn, eat a BIG breakfast, drink lots of water, do your prayersGo without food and water the entire day (set aside 3 focused times to pray)Spend the hour before sunset making a big meal for your householdBreak your fast at sundown with joy and celebration, then pray before bed Why this matters: You taste the discomfort, surrender, and giving up of yourself for a greater purposeYou identify with your Muslim friends—walk in their shoes for a dayIt gives you something powerful to TELL them: "I fasted with you" The response: They'll smile, be pleasantly surprised, and ask "Why?!"Your answer: "I'm fully submitted to God, like you. I want to pray more, like you. And I want to experience your traditions and culture in a small way." PARTY: If they're celebrating every night, why not join them? What to do: Ask your Muslim friends if you can come to an Iftar meal (the break-the-fast celebration at sundown)Best approach: Tell them you're fasting for a day like they do, then ask if you can come celebrate with them that eveningOffer to bring food too (hallal)Since hospitality is a high value in Muslim cultures, they'll be honored you asked Why this matters: It's kind of lame to go to a party where everyone is SO relieved to eat when you haven't felt the pain with themCombining fasting + Iftar meal = deep friendship and spiritual conversationsYou earn the right to pray with them and open the Bible together Personal stories shared: - Two years ago: Afghan international students/refugees invited me to their home for Iftar - They prayed in front of me with deep reverence to God - After dinner, I prayed for them and we opened the Injil (Today's Persian Version Bible) - Last year: I hosted an Iftar picnic by the pond in my neighborhood - Laid out dates, nuts, fruit, juice, sweets on a red blanket under twinkly lights - They brought Persian food, I made a traditional Afghan stew from an internet recipe - Told them I fasted all day praying for them—they couldn't believe it! - This year: They invited me back again KEY TAKEAWAY: May God show himself personally to Muslims all around the world as they fervently seek his presence. May God reveal Jesus as the way to God and give them his Spirit as a deposit for a future eternal inheritance. You have 30 days. Three simple ways to be intentional. Let's do this together. ...
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Jan 27 202632 min