Day 1 of 7, November 2

Lifting Our Eyes Higher Than the Mountains

Himalayas: Mount Kailash and Kathmandu

“I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

We begin the prayer journey by focusing on the Himalayan region, including Mount Kailash and Nepal. Though people of other faith traditions are present in this area, we focus our prayers on the Hindus in this region today. Covering about 2,400 kilometers (from east to west), the Himalayan mountains extend across Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, and Pakistan. Extremely significant religiously, the region is home to many sacred sites. While millions of pilgrims visit holy places in the Himalayas such as Badrinath and Kedarnath, for those who live there permanently, the Himalayas provide a difficult but strongly communal way of life. Livelihoods depend on growing food and keeping livestock. This is a challenge with changing weather and seasonal patterns as glaciers melt.

Culture, faith, and tradition are deeply connected to the landscape. Many peaks in the Himalayas are considered to be the abode of gods. Lord Shiva, a central god for many Hindus, is believed to reside with his consort, Parvati, on a famous peak called Mount Kailash. Pilgrims travel there to perform sacred rituals and to bathe in nearby Lake Mansarovar, hoping to obtain blessings.

Mainly situated in the Himalayas, Nepal is home to 23.5 million Hindus. Though officially a secular state, Nepal is becoming increasingly less tolerant of Christian practice; persecution and anti-conversion laws are on the rise.

Focus on: Himalayas: Mount Kailash, Kathmandu

Prayer points

Pray for those living in the Himalayan region to lift their eyes even higher than Mt. Kailash and other holy sites to the God who created them, loves them, lived and died for them so that they might have eternal life.
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills and all nations will stream to it.” Isaiah 2:2 (NIV)
Pray for those on pilgrimage seeking blessings from Shiva or other gods to encounter Jesus along the way, and to surrender their lives to follow Him.
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.” Psalm 84:5-6 (NIV)
Pray for those in Nepal who are hesitant to come to faith in Jesus because of increasing anti-conversion laws, and for the believers there who are being increasingly persecuted.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 (NIV)

Add your own prayer for Himalayas: Mount Kailash and Kathmandu to the Prayer Wall for Adults

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