1. Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

   • Praise LORD [YHWH], for it is good to sing praises unto our God, for it is pleasant and praise is comely. LORD builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds… Great is our Lord, and of great power. His understanding is infinite. LORD lifts up the meek. He casts the wicked down… Sing unto LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.

     Psa. 147:1-7

   • We bless You for Your continuing faithfulness to Israel and to us (Lam. 3:22-23).

   • We bless You for watching over Your Word.

     Then said LORD unto me, You have seen well: for I will hasten [watch over] My word to perform it.

     Jer. 1:12

   • Thank You for Your joy which enables us to carry on in the face of all opposition.

2. Israel's water situation continues to be critical.

   • Abba, this is Your land (Ezek. 36:5; Joel 3:2). Please to provide all its water needs.

   • You, O God, did send abundant rain, whereby You did establish Your inheritance, when it was weary.

     Psa. 68:9

   • We thank You for making Israelis be more conservative in their use of this nation's water resources.

   • Lord, tourism numbers are increasing - for which we thank You. Please provide all the water that the tourists need as well.

   • As per Your invitation in Hebrews 4:16, we come boldly into Your throne of grace to obtain mercy and grace for Israel in this time of need.

3. This week the Knesset [Israel's parliament] passed a law stating that for land which has already been annexed to Israel - such as all Jerusalem and the Golan Heights - to be given away in any peace deal, it must first be approved by two-thirds of the Knesset Members (80 out of 120) or, if that fails, a national referendum must be held. This is great news for those of us who believe that all of this land has been given to Israel by God - for His holy name's sake.

   • We bless You for the passage of this bill - which most of the world is against.

   • Continue to maintain Your land in the hands of Your people for Your kingdom purposes.

   • Strengthen and protect all of the MKs who voted for the passage of this bill.

   • You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

     Mic. 7:20

4. Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was in favor of this law and has been taking a very bold stance concerning a number of issues this week. In particular, he was very upset about a study published by the Palestinian Authority which says there is no historical link between the Jewish people and the Western Wall. Bibi said this is not the first time that the PA has tried to revise history to suit their purposes.

   • Lord, thank You for PM Netanyahu and his stance for truth.

   • We hold him before You in prayer, asking You to continue to strengthen and encourage him to do that which is pleasing in Your sight (Prov. 21:1).

   • May many, both here and in the world, hear Bibi and have their eyes opened to the truth about Israel's history and her miraculous modern day restoration.

   • Protect Netanyahu and his family physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

   • Save them during this Chanukah season. Let the light of Messiah Yeshua shine brighter and brighter each day in their hearts and minds.

   • For God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Messiah Yeshua.

     2 Cor. 4:6

   • We thank You for allowing Satan to overplay his hand with this PA false report.

   • Use it to wake up many in Israel, especially in the Hebrew media, who still are convinced that with Abbas and the PA, Israel has a genuine "peace" partner.

   • Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts.

     Psa. 28:3

5. The world's response to this week's North Korean attack on a South Korean island which resulted in the death of several people is most instructive. There was a lot of talk - but not much else. North Korea has taken provocative and aggressive actions before and, despite the threats of the world - so far they have not had to pay any appropriate penalty. This should wake Israel up to the fact that there will be no one willing to defend her against an Iran once it - like North Korea - gets nuclear weapons. If you have faith to pray for your nations that this can wake them up as well, please do so.

   • We ask that this would be a huge wake up call for all those in Israel who are responsible for her safety and protection.

   • Abba, we confess that You are the One who will protect Israel - whether You do it through "natural" causes or You chose to use Israel's army.

   • Behold, He that keeps/guards Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

     Psalms 121:4

   • Hear the word of LORD, you gentiles, and declare it in the islands far off, saying, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and guard him, as a shepherd does his flock.

     Jer. 31:10

   • If Israel will need to attack Iran, please guide her in the "how" and "when" (Isa. 41:10-16).

   • Let God arise. Let His enemies be scattered. Let them also that hate Him flee before Him… Rebuke the company of spearmen… scatter the people that delight in war.

     Psa. 68:1,30

   • We thank You for the consistent earthquakes that are shaking Iran.

   • We bless You for the computer worm that has infected many of Iran's nuclear facilities.

   • We praise You for all the Iranians who are coming to know You through Messiah Yeshua.

6. "WikiLeaks" is an NGO which uncovers secret information it thinks the public needs to be aware of - although most governments would disagree (wikileaks.org). They are set to reveal their next batch of documents which will uncover some of what goes on in the US State Department - which has been consistently anti-Israel. Also some nasty information about Turkey will be included. And Turkey is now a fierce enemy of the Jewish State.

   • Lord, we recognize this spiritual principle, that You want all things brought to the light.

   • Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak in light: and what you hear in the ear, that preach upon the housetops.

     Matt. 10:26-27

   • We want to see that which is true - and only that which You deem is necessary for people to know now - to be revealed.

   • Use this to cause a great shaking in many areas - especially related to how the nations are dealing with Your nation and people (Zech. 2:8).

   • May the new US Congress, coming in this January, take advantage of these revelations to clean out those elements in the State Department which are damaging US-Israel relations.

   • Open up eyes in the Church to the lies into which many have fallen into concerning Israel and Islam.

7. Israel's security situation is tense. The results of the UN Special Tribunal investigating former Lebanese PM Harriri's assassination seems to be pointing to both Hizbullah and Syria. This could cause either a civil war in Lebanon or Hizbullah could try to take the spotlight off itself by attacking Israel. Further, Turkey has said she will help to defend both Hizbullah and Syria against any Israel attack or reprisal. Israel needs to be constantly on high alert.

   • Abba, aid the IDF to be prepared to defend this nation regardless of the threat.

   • Give wisdom to Israel's military leaders - especially Yoav Golant, who will soon be the IDF's new Chief of Staff.

   • Lord, let this UN report be issued in Your timing.

   • Do not allow the threat of violence from Hizbullah prevent the truth to be exposed.

   • Hedge in Israel's enemies.

   • Confound them (Psa. 129:5).

   • Bring them to shame (Psa. 83:16).

   • Save many of them and deal with those who refuse to turn to You in Your merciful - yet just - way (Jer. 12:14-17).

   • Send Your fear on Turkey and all other nations or groups that try to destroy Your people.

   • Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail. Let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

     Psa. 9:19-20

8. This week's Torah portion opens with this: And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. (Gen. 37:1) We want to see many more Jews come to Israel and dwell - or settle - as the Hebrew can also be translated. We prayed for aliyah, the immigration of Jews from exile back home to Israel.

   • We thank You for an increase of 20% in the number of Jews who came home this past year. Now we are asking for more this year.

   • Fear not: for I am with you. I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back. Bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth. Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.

     Isa. 43:5-7

   • Shake up the comfort zones and false sense of security that has trapped many Jews in exile - and let them see the handwriting on the wall.

   • Use the increase of worldwide anti-Semitism as a wake up call to Your people in exile.

   • Continue to strengthen Israel's economy to be a magnet to draw Your people back.

   • We thank You for the settlers in Judea and Samaria. Protect them and let them increase.

   • Reveal Yourself to them on the mountains of Israel, as per Your promise in Ezekiel 36.

   • May this government actually make aliyah a top priority and enable all the various departments to work together.

   • Yeshua, speak to Your Body of Messiah Jews and give them ears to hear if You want them to return - and when (Isa. 35:10; 51:11).

We ended by asking, that during this Chanukah season [starts this Wednesday eve], the Lord would raise up Sons of Zion both in Israel and the Church.

Turn to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope.
Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee,
when I have bent Judah for Me, filled the bow with Ephraim,
and raised up Your sons, O Zion, against Your sons, O Greece,
and made you as the sword of a mighty man.

Zech. 9:12-13

May the light of the Lord increase in your life as we draw closer to His return.

Shabbat shalom from Zion
The IFI team