Five Ways to Pray for the Taliban

It is very easy to pray for those whom we love. How wonderful it is to pray for our family members and bring them before the Lord! How beautiful it is to earnestly pray for our friends, especially when they are a source of joy and encourgement to us. How courageous it is to even pray for the political parties that we may not agree with!

But does not that little verse in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, which says, “Pray for those who persecute you,” startle us? Or even harder, what about the phrase right before it, “Love your enemies…”?

I have found it hard to pray for the Taliban lately. It is easy to turn to the Old Testament and pray for justice, by which we really mean the vengeance of God, right here, right now, in its harshest form, for the destruction of those we consider deserving of it.

But it is hard for us to understand how Jesus could have said, right after he instructed us to love our enemies, that "[God] makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?".

So, if the warmth of our Father’s sun touches even the wicked, should not the rays of our prayers reach His heart for their sake? If His rain nourishes the barren land of those who do evil, should we not plead for His grace to quench the thirst of their withered souls? If not, how else are we going to demonstrate that we are His children?

For these reason, as an Afghan follower of Jesus, I believe we must pray for the Taliban.

Here are 5 ways you can pray for the Taliban:

1. Pray for Their Transformation and Salvation

The Apostle Paul, once a persecutor of Christians himself, experienced a radical transformation through Christ (Acts 9:1-19). In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul urges believers to pray for all people because God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” By praying for the Taliban’s transformation and salvation, we align ourselves and our prayers with God’s redemptive mission.

Pray and intercede for the Taliban to encounter God’s love through the Gospel, leading them to repentance and a change of heart.

2. Pray for the Healing of Wounds and Reconciliation

The cycle of violence often perpetuates because of deep-seated desire for revenge and a lack of forgiveness. Ephesians 4:31-32 urges believers to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger… be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Praying for the Taliban includes interceding for the healing of their hearts and souls.

Pray and ask God to bring about reconciliation between the Taliban and those they have harmed, breaking the chains of hatred and fostering an environment where peace can take root.

3. Pray for God to Reveal Himself Through Dreams and Visions

Throughout the Bible, God has used dreams and visions to communicate with people who do not know Him (e.g., Pharaoh in Genesis 41, Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2). In areas where traditional missionary work is challenging, God can reveal Himself directly through dreams. My own mom saw a dream about Jesus, seven years before we heard the Gospel.

Pray and ask God to make Himself known to the Taliban through dreams and visions, leading them to search for the Word of God or find access to Gospel content that we and other Afghans are producing.

4. Pray for the Protection of Vulnerable Populations

While praying for the Taliban, it’s essential to intercede for those who are most affected by their actions, such as women, children, and minorities. Psalm 82:3-4 calls us to “defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” By praying for the protection and empowerment of these vulnerable groups, we participate in God’s heart for justice and compassion.

Pray and ask God to shield them from harm, provide for their needs, and strengthen them to withstand adversity. Pray that the Taliban would recognize the dignity and worth of every individual.

5. Pray for the Spread of the Gospel and the Growth of the Church

In the midst of turmoil, the Gospel has the power to bring hope and transformation. Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.” Praying for the Taliban includes asking God to open doors for the message of Christ to reach them and others in the region.

Pray for missionaries, local believers, and underground churches to be bold and wise in sharing their faith. Additionally, intercede for spiritual breakthroughs that lead to a growing community of Afghan believers who can positively influence their society from within.

Would you also commit to praying for our team at Lumens of Truth as we are in the forefront of reaching the unreached peoples of Afghanistan with the Gospel of Jesus?