Prayer Guide – Week 10 (Dec 16-22)

NO other time of the year more clearly spotlights Japan and religion than Christmas and the first of January.

Here is some background information for those non-Japanese people praying.

Department stores start their advertising for Christmas as soon as Halloween finishes. Gift giving is usually limited to parents giving their children presents. Santa Claus is often at the centre. Christmas carols play in stores but few are familiar with the words. Christmas day is a normal work day and most churches don’t have a service on Christmas day if it is a work day. For a Westerner it can seem unusual that there is no celebration. Some even think that to have a Western Christmas they need to get KFC! It is KFC’s busiest day of the year!

After Christmas ends decorations are replaced by the Shinto New Year symbol- a pine branch attached to the front gate/door of each home. On New Year’s Day most Japanese head for temples or shrines to pray for safety and blessings for the new year. They approach the front are, toss a coin into the offering “trough” clap their hands and pray.

To whom they pray isn’t essential. It may go to Buddha, an ancestral god or one of the 8 million Shinto gods. Syncretism is a widespread reality – part of daily life.

In the light of this please pray for Japanese people as you and your family celebrate Christmas and New Year. Pray that Japanese eyes will be opened to the baby born at Christmas that grew up to be the saviour of the world. Pray Japanese people will question who they are praying to on New Year’s Day. Pray the Holy Spirit will open thousands of Japanese eyes and hearts this Christmas and New Year.

Pray that Christians will find effective ways to share the Good News with their friends and neighbours over this season.

Thank you for your prayers for Japan. The team at Love Japan wish you a Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year full of the blessings of God.

The next prayer update will be in early January.