1. Hosea 2:14-22 - Thank You God:

    • that the Jews are coming back to the land. You are meeting them there and is being a husband to them.

    • that You are drawing Israel back to the land and into this covenant relationship with Yourself.

    • for bringing us to know You.

    • for Your faithfulness to us and to Israel.

    • that even though Israel is faithless, You are still faithful because You cannot deny Yourself.

    • that we can be co-laborers with You.

    • You are the rock of our faith.

    • Hodu l'Adonai ki tov, ki leolam chasdo.

    • Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy endures forever.

  2. Netanyahu in the USA - We thank God that in the past week we saw answers to the prayers we have prayed over recent weeks and months for our Prime Minister's visit to the USA and the things he would say there.

    It appears that President Obama was looking for a fight. He got a fight and lost! However, he is the President of the USA and perhaps the most powerful man in the world. The fact that he was furious about some of the things Netanyahu said may not be good news for Israel in the days to come.

    Netanyahu made a clear statement that the Jews in Judea and Samaria are not occupiers but Jews returning to live within their ancestral boundaries. This was a clear proclamation of truth for which we can give thanks to the Lord. There were other statements he made (eg. concerning the formation of a Palestinian state) which we can feel less happy about. But let us give thanks for the many good things in Netanyahu's speeches:

    • for the overwhelmingly positive response from the members of the joint Houses of Congress in the USA, giving Netanyahu encouragement when he needed it.

    • for the answers to our persistent prayers.

    • for Netanyahu's courage, clarity and anointing.

    • that Netanyahu is Israel's Prime Minister at such a time as this.

    • that he said things other people have been afraid to say.

    • that the Congress had open ears to hear.

    • for the positive support of a majority of Israelis.

    • for the unity expressed by the conduct and poise of Bibi's wife Sarah.

    We continued to pray:

    • for continued anointing upon Bibi to communicate effectively and make right decisions.

    • that he would remain firm.

    • for God's protection over his spirit and his body.

    • that God would continue raising up men and women obedient to Himself in the American Congress.

    • for open ears around the world as people are still able to hear what Bibi said via recordings.

    • for God's blessing upon those Arabs who stand for Israel.

  3. Security Issues - On 15th May the border between Israel and Syria was breached on the Golan Heights by a number of Palestinians instigated by the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Israel was caught sleeping by this infiltration, exposing a failure in our intelligence apparatus though which we should have had a better idea of what would happen. As a result the border area in that region was only very lightly guarded. Following this "success" our enemies are encouraged to try similar operations again. In addition there is still talk and planning around the sending of a second flotilla to break Israel's sea blockade of Gaza.

    Pray:

    • for the IDF to have the right responses to these unconventional assaults on Israel's sovereignty.

    • for the military general staff to have an anointing to think outside the box. May they have the military wisdom of King David when God told him exactly what to do.

    • that Benyamin Gantz the Chief of General Staff to be granted godly awareness, intelligence and discernment.

    • that Israel's intelligence network would infiltrate the plans for another flotilla and those planning marches against Israel's borders so they would know what the enemy is doing before he does it.

    • for the alertness of all Israel's troops wherever they are on the front line and the correct intelligence which would enable Israel to be like Elisha who knew what the King of Syria was saying in his bedroom (2 Kings 6:12).

    • for an ability to see the future and not just the past and that Israel's military would be able to plan for the next war and not just the last one.

    • for Israel's navy to be equipped with the means to nullify any coming flotilla.

    • As we stand in the gap, Lord, send your hosts to supernaturally turn back the efforts of Israel's enemies.

    Egypt's military rulers under pressure from the Moslem Brotherhood have re-opened the Rafa border between Egypt and Gaza. There is easy movement of people, arms and money so now terrorists are free to enter Gaza from Egypt. Recognize that the Moslem Brotherhood is the parent movement of both Hamas and al-Qaeda.
    Pray:

    • that the re-opening of the border will so badly affect Egypt that they will close it again quickly.

    • that the fundamentalist Islamic influence of Hamas in Gaza will be seen to be a threat to Egypt as her own fundamentalists rise up and make increasing demands.

    • that Egypt will be caused to focus on her own problems and take her attention away from attacking Israel.

    • for in-fighting between Egypt and Gaza.

    • that the border would be closed again, preventing weapons coming into Gaza and arming Hamas for another war with Israel.

    • Egypt would explain clearly to the world that they needed to re-close the border because the open border and the influence of Hamas was bad for Egypt.

  4. Unilateral declaration of Palestinian Statehood - The Palestinians are planning to ask the United Nations General Assembly in September to approve a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. Such a move could bring the nations of the world against Israel with the imposition of sanctions should Israel oppose the formation of the Palestinian state. This would lead to the end of the Oslo Accords which require negotiation as the path to statehood rather than a unilateral move.

    David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister used to refer to the UN as the "United Nothings", and also to declare, "It is not important what the nations say but what Israel does."

    Pray:

    • for Israel to be prepared and for the nations to stand up for what is right.

    • that Israel's government would be prepared for every possible outcome with the UN.

    • that Israel would be defended from all demonstrations, marches, acts of violence.

    • that God would use the process to weaken the Palestinians and to strengthen Israel, even to increase Israel's territorial boundaries.

    • that the plans to divide the land would cause a greater unity in Israel.

    • for God's will to be done.

    • Psalm 2:1-5 - If this is Your response to the UN, O God, we stand with You. Do not be silent, Lord - express Yourself!

    • Send deep division among the Palestinian leadership, that they would be unable to agree on a plan to unilaterally establish a nation/take land away from Israel.

  5. Growing anti-Semitism in Europe - Aliyah - It is no longer considered politically incorrect to say openly anti-Semitic things. In Dundee, Scotland bookstores have recently been banned from selling English translations of Israeli writers.

    Jeremiah 16:14-16 - the Lord is using the spirit of anti-Semitism as a 'hunter' to help drive the Jewish people home.

    Pray:

    • for Jews in different nations to come home.

    • that the eyes of the Jewish people would be opened and they would see that they are not safe and they have no refuges elsewhere but they need to come home to Israel.

    • that "natural" events in the USA (such as tornados) would stir up the Jews to come home. "Shake them loose! Awaken them! May they see increasing anti-Semitism as a real threat and flee before it's too late!"

    • for courage for Jews in various nations (pray for your own nation) to take the steps needed to make aliyah.

    • that God will raise up more 'fishermen' to travel round and bring Jews home.

    • America has been and is mostly good to the Jews. But may Americans seek Obama's attitudes as rooted in anti-Semitism.

    • that the people of Israel would recognize the anti-Semitism in the world and be united by it.

    • Numbers 23:7-10 - may Israel recognize her calling of not being reckoned among the nations. As we see the raging beast of anti-Semitism, may we not react in fear but recognize our unique, separate calling, being a tool in God's hands. May Israel embrace this calling.

    • As the people come home make verse 10 true: Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?

    • Open the eyes of Jews (especially Messianic Jews who already believe in Yeshua) to the calling to come home to Israel. Make Israel attractive to them.

    • Provoke the Arab nations to jealousy (though not to rage!) as they see Your hand, Lord, upon the nation of Israel.

    • Psalm 102:12-16 - May people see that You are showing mercy in restoring the Jewish people to the land! Delay no longer, o Lord! May they see that Your favor is upon the Jewish people when they are dwelling in the land of Israel! Give this vision to every Jew!

  6. Water - Contrary to what we may be hearing, the water situation in Israel is still desperate.

    Isaiah 41:18-20 - God has promised to plant trees even in the desert.

    Pray:

    • Release fountains from the depths of the earth!

    • Turn the desert into a place of fruitfulness so the world will be amazed and see that it's You, God, who did it!

    • You know how serious the situation is - have mercy!

    • Fill the Sea of Galilee and the aquifers!

    • Help us be good stewards and not waster the water You have given. May we realize how precious it is! May the police be given real power to punish those who blatantly waste the water (such as hosing down the sidewalks)!

  7. Body of Messiah in Israel - A call has recently gone out from one of our brothers in leadership in Israel for the Body of believers to set aside a particular day in August to pray for the political and security situation here in the land.

    Pray:

    • for the Body to come together to pray in this way.

    • Thanks for this call to prayer over political and security issues. May it have a dramatic effect on the Body in Israel.

    • Give thanks for those groups which are praying faithfully.

    • for God to build true unity in the Body, so that He may reveal through us Yeshua the Son of God to this nations and all the other nations.

    • Pour out a spirit of grace and supplication whenever and wherever we meet together (eg during the coming Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost 7th/8th June) that we cannot help crying out to You, Lord for our land!

  8. Israel's Salvation - At Shavuot we commemorate the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem.

    Pray:

    • for the latter rains to fall.

    • for holocaust survivors, the IDF, government, and other specific groups in the population to "see Your great light as they are walking in darkness" (Isaiah 9:2)

    • that (Romans 11:26) all Israel will be saved. Let it be soon, Lord!

    • Pour out Your Spirit to reveal to them the one pierced for their transgressions!

    • Save Netanyahu, the Cabinet, the Knesset. Convict them of their sin and of their need for a savior. Bring them to a revelation of the truth!

    • Isaiah 60:1 - May the people of Israel come to Your light!

    • Thank You, Yeshua, that more Jews today acknowledge You than at any previous time in history!