How To Pray For Afghanistan

Afghanistan is a country that has been in conflict for a long time. These conflicts have affected many civilians there, both Christians and non-Christians. One of the main reasons why Christians should pray for Afghanistan, apart from it being a country where conflict is present, is that it is a nation that needs to be reached out to by Christ. Afghanistan is predominantly an Islamic nation where they need to hear the Gospel of Christ, as it will allow them to find eternal life and forgiveness for their sins. It is currently 2022, but last year, the United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan. While this is not an article about politics, there have been many adverse events following the withdrawal of US forces. We see that women have lost their rights once again, the Taliban have taken over the country, and Christians are being persecuted left and right by radical extremists. The persecution that Christians face is an extreme kind of persecution. We are talking about believers who are being imprisoned, beaten, executed, and worse because of their faith. That means we should pray not only for the nation itself to be saved, but also for Christians going through intense persecution.

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

What do you pray for in Afghanistan?

There are several things you can pray for in Afghanistan. The first one is for the nation of Afghanistan to be reached out to and brought into Christ. There are many things you can pray for regarding that aspect. You can pray for the Gospel to propagate in the nation of Afghanistan. In line with that, you can pray for the missionaries and local believers there to be bold, courageous, and brave in preaching Christ, even if they face intense persecution. With that, you can pray for open doors and opportunities for the missionaries and believers there so that they can preach the Gospel. You can pray for key people to be reached so that missionaries and believers have a strategic opportunity to reach out to more people. Praying for the Gospel to propagate in the nation of Afghanistan is not just about praying for the missionaries and local believers. You can also pray for the people that they reach out to. You can pray for the hearts of the people there, that the Holy Spirit shall turn their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh and for their spiritual eyes to be opened so they may see the kingdom of God. 

Ezekiel 36:26

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

Matthew 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Colossians 4:3

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Another element you can pray for concerning the nation of Afghanistan is the persecuted church or Christians. There are many things you can pray for the saints there. One is praying for God’s grace upon them to persevere and endure, despite the persecution they are going through. God’s grace alone preserves them and keeps them from falling away in the faith, despite the persecution they go through. You can pray for them to remain faithful in Christ, despite the persecution. It means never renouncing Christ, despite the threat of death and the offer of being spared if they renounce Christ—praying for them to remain faithful until the end is essential. You can also pray for the missionaries who are doing their mission work in Afghanistan. You can pray for provision upon them, that they shall lack no good thing or the things they need as they carry out their mission and can focus exclusively on their mission, since their needs are already met. That includes praying for the people they ask for financial partnership with to see their vision and have the heart to partner with their mission through giving.

Given that the believers and the missionaries there face danger every day, you can pray for God’s safety and protection, that they shall be protected from any sicknesses or malicious intentions. Praying for them to continue giving thanks to God and being joyful is a good thing to pray for. Despite being under intense persecution, they can still have a grateful heart towards God and be joyful because their joy depends not on their temporary circumstances, but on Christ.

Romans 5:3-4

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:12

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Another thing you can pray for is the government of Afghanistan. Just as we pray for the US government and its leaders, we should also pray for Afghanistan’s government. While the situation of Afghanistan is certainly complicated, since the Taliban and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are fighting for control of the country, you can pray for both of them, since they both need to be reached. Similar to what we prayed for earlier, the most important thing you can pray for is their opportunity to hear the Gospel. That also includes praying for the Holy Spirit to soften their hearts and open their spiritual eyes. You can pray for the leaders to lead with wisdom, to always make wise decisions. Also, pray that the leaders will put the public’s interest before their own interests, and that they shall always lead with integrity to uphold what is morally right.

How do I pray for Afghan refugees?

Due to the chaos in Afghanistan after US forces withdrew, many Afghans escaped their country to avoid the chaos and the Taliban’s authoritarian rule. These refugees are still people that can be reached and prayed for. We can pray for those refugees to have the opportunity to hear and preach the Gospel. You can pray that wherever they take refuge, the Christians in that nation will reach out to those refugees and demonstrate the Gospel to them by helping them with their needs and, in the end, preaching about the ultimate person that they need, which is Christ. We should also remember that those refugees have suffered emotionally and mentally while escaping their nation. With that in mind, you can pray for God’s grace upon them, that they shall be comforted. That also shows us that all the more, they need Christ, because only in Christ can they find grace, comfort, peace, and joy.

Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

With everything we have mentioned, here is an example of how to pray for the nation of Afghanistan:

Heavenly Father, You are the God of mercy and grace. I pray for my fellow believers and missionaries in the nation of Afghanistan, that You will give them the grace to persevere and endure despite the persecution they face. I pray that You will provide them with the grace to remain faithful and remind them that Christ is their joy and peace. Thank You, because they are living a victorious and dynamic life through Christ who strengthens them, even while suffering. I pray for provision upon them, especially our missionaries, that they shall not worry about their provision, but focus on reaching out to the local Afghans, because their needs are already met. I pray for the people that they reach out to, that You will soften their hearts and open their spiritual eyes so that they may repent and believe the Gospel. Give the believers and the missionaries there the grace to be bold and never be ashamed of the Gospel, so their work there shall bear fruit. I also pray for the leaders of Afghanistan, that they will get to hear the Gospel. I pray that they shall also repent and follow Christ. May they always lead with wisdom and integrity and put the people’s interests above their own. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The Bible tells us to pray, intercede, and make supplications for all people. That includes praying for the people of Afghanistan, the believers and missionaries there, the leaders, and the nation’s overall well-being. Above every prayer point that we can offer, the most essential is praying that the people will hear Christ and believe in the Gospel.