After 50 years of oppressive military dictatorships, the first reasonably free elections in 25 years will be held in Burma this week. It’s an incredible step of progress for a country that has for centuries been torn apart by civil war.

However, Burma’s still got a long way to go. President Thein Sein ntroduced a series of political reforms in 2011 that gave the hope of change, but this reform process has completely stalled and in some respects reversed. Consequently, constitutional reform has yet to happen, preventing the leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, from standing for the presidency. In the midst of this, hostile intolerance towards Muslims is increasing as militant Buddhist nationalists grow ever more powerful. If there was ever a time to pray for God’s peace and stability in Burma, it’s now.

This week, please:

• Pray for the elections on 8 November, that the peace of God would rest powerfully upon all the proceedings and create a stable atmosphere in Burma;
• Give thanks for the elections and pray for a smooth transition in government;
• Ask God to lift all restrictions and obstacles preventing the political reforms from progressing;
• Pray for the integration of Muslims into Burmese society, and for an end to their marginalisation, dehumanisation and persecution;
• Ask the Holy Spirit to bring powerful protection to the Kachin people, a majority Christian group who have been subjected to atrocious violence by the military;
• Pray for a supernatural change of hearts in Buddhist militants, that their violence would stop and they would work alongside citizens of other beliefs;
• Ask God to bring an atmosphere not of violence and hatred in Burma, but one of peace, joy and God’s presence.