Jerusalem, Israel
MAY 14, 2023 PRAYER UPDATE
Israel and the Nations
PRAISE TO THE LORD:
We magnify You Lord! We thank You that You are the God of Israel, who has sure victories for Jacob. You are our protection, our shield, and our fortress. We run to You for our safety. It is in You that we live, move, and have our being. It is in Your Secret Place that we are hidden from the battles of life. We abide in the shadow of You, Almighty! No matter what storms loom on the horizon; no matter how much chaos comes, we follow Your Word. You have commanded us to be strong and courageous. To not be afraid. To not be discouraged. For, You, Lord, God are with us wherever we go! We trust in You. We listen for Your voice. We abide in You as You abide in us. We give You all the glory, all the power, all the honor. We bless Your holy name!
PRAYER FOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT:
In this Day 8, the 28th day of the Omer, we read in Isaiah 62:8: “The Lord has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength!”
We pray for leaders in the government of Israel -- that they will make wise decisions in the days ahead, which are critical days for this country. That they will look to You Lord, and receive, by Your right hand, and the arm of Your strength, what You have destined for Your land and Your people. The grain and the new wine, the bounty You have given to Israel from her enemies.
We pray for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be given clear strategies in the days ahead, in how to lead the Israeli people; in how to serve the citizens of this nation. We proclaim that Netanyahu will call on the name of the Lord, and recognize the importance of turning to You in every decision he makes!
We pray for Foreign Minister, Eli Cohen, to know how to communicate, effectively, Israel’s message to the nations – that Israel is protecting its home front; that this is what every nation would do for its people. We pray that no diplomat abroad will be able to twist the message of Israel’s ambassadors and diplomats -- that You, Lord, will continue to stop the nations from coming against Israel -- in the UN Security Council; in the European Union; in every global forum.
Lord, pour out Your favor, diplomatically, on Israel’s behalf. Let Israel’s friends in the nations defend Israel’s right to defend itself from its enemies.
And, contend with those who contend against You and Your Chosen nation! (ISAIAH 35:1).
We pray, especially, for Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, who lost his mother a few days ago. He is, most likely, “sitting shiva,” and probably did so, even in the midst of great battles with Islamic Jihad in Gaza.
God, draw near to our Defense Minister; comfort his soul; comfort his family. Comfort Your people, Israel, according to Isaiah Chapter 40:1. Speak into the heart of this nation, and cry unto her, that her present warfare has ended. It has accomplished what it was set out to do. For You are also forgiving Israel of all her sins, as the nation looks to You!
Lead and guide Israel’s Security Cabinet, with great knowledge and understanding. We declare: PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD – in every situation in every part of this land.
Today marks the 75th birthday of Israel’s Independence on the Gregorian Calendar – May 14, 1948. Seventy-five years ago today, Israel became a modern independent state.
Reading through the words of Israel’s national anthem – Hatikvah – we realize that it is first and foremost a call to Aliyah – to the return of the Jewish People to their biblical homeland.
Here are the words translated from Hebrew to English:
As long as in the heart within,
The Jewish soul yearns,
As long as the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart,
With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion,
Then our hope -‐ the two-‐thousand-‐year-‐old hope -‐ will not be lost:
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
PRAYER FOR ALIYAH (IMMIGRATION):
As we pray for Israel, let us remember to pray for the return of the Jewish People from the four corners of the earth, to the land of their biblical forefathers. This is their inheritance in covenant with God… through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Lord, You have led Your people home, during the fiercest of battles in Israel. Nothing stops You from doing what the scriptures say. In more than 64 scriptures in the Word of God, we are reminded that that the Jewish People will come home. We ask you to open the gates and prepare the way, here in Israel, for their return. Move mountains of difficulties out of the way, so that they can receive their inheritance in Your Promised Land… so they can know their God, in this land, that has been born in a day. These dry bones shall live; and, You shall give Your people a new heart, and a new mind, and fill them with Your Spirit! And, this land will be born, by Your Spirit – as You say in Romans 11:25-26 – All Israel Will Be Saved!
Even now, in the nations, in the Diaspora, we ask You Lord to prepare Your Chosen.
NAKBA DAY, MAY 15:
Pray for the Palestinians and Israeli Arabs that call this day a day of “catastrophe.” Many of them do not recognize the Jewish State. May it be a day of healing between brethren…
Let Your peace reign. We pray for peace in Jerusalem. Peace be upon Israel. Let Your peace fall upon this land!
Israel has been in a battle with its enemies for a week now…
PRAYER REGARDING THE CEASEFIRE AND FUTURE BATTLES:
We pray for the ceasefire between Israel and Islamic Jihad – that it will not be temporary, but permanent. We sense that the battles for Israel are not over any time soon. There is still a warning that what started in Gaza could still spread to the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) in a greater way; that this battle could spread to mixed Arab-Jewish cities; and to our northern borders with Lebanon, and Syria. We ask You Lord to push back the plans of the enemy, and bring quiet to our borders. We pray, especially for our northern border. God, have mercy, and do the impossible. With You all things are possible. Help Israel to overcome thousands of rockets that are being prepared by Israel’s enemies to be launched across Israel’s northern borders into our homeland. Do not let it happen Lord!
We acknowledge that You are the God of Wonders. You are the God of miracles. Save Your people, and save Your land, from destruction in the north. Raise up watchmen in the watch towers to pray.
PRAYER FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERCESSORS TO STAY ON THEIR POST:
We continue to pray that these battles will not escalate into a multi-front war. We acknowledge that we need a continual multi-front force of intercessors praying, corporately, in war rooms across the globe. Do it Lord – raise them up to praise and worship You in heavenly realms, and to pray from Your throne room, fighting the good fight of faith, with Your right arm and your right hand, leading them in the battle.
We declare Exodus 15:6: “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power. Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
Psalm 44:3-4: “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory. It was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them. You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel.”
We have our assurance that IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, we will see His victory over our enemies!
Psalm 144:1-2: Praise the LORD, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle. He is my Loving Ally, and my Fortress, my Tower of Safety, my Rescuer. He is my Shield, and I take Refuge in Him. He makes the nations submit to me.”
We asked the LORD to give us His BATTLE STRATEGIES:
Hostile nations, hostile entities, militant groups -- surround Israel – terrorists in Gaza; in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria), in mixed cities in Israel; in Lebanon; in Syria… and in the distance, Iran. We pray that the Lord will bring confusion into the ranks of all who are against the Lord, and against His anointed. That they will cease and desist from their wicked ways.
We pray for Israel, according to Psalm 118:10: “All nations surrounded me. But IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, I will destroy them. They surrounded me. Yes, they surrounded me. But, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, I will destroy them.”
The Lord gives us victory over our enemies. He subdues the nations under us. God is our Prayer Shield and He equips us for battle.
Psalm 3:3: “But, You, LORD, are a shield round me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high!”
Psalm 18:39: “For You have armed me with strength for the battle. You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.”
2 Samuel 22:35: “He trains my hands for battle; my arms bend a bow of bronze.
We are assured a victory because of who HE IS!
Psalm 60:12: “Through God we will do valiantly. For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.”
PRAYER:
Whatever we do in preparing for the battle, and entering the battle, God, only through You can we be courageous, fearless, brave, and bold!