1. Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust. O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.” As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.Psalm 16:1-3

   • Thank You that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

   • You are an ever present help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)

   • Hodu l’Adonai ki tov ki leolam chasdo. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

   • Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!Revelation 5:12

   • Who is like You, Lord?… There is none like You! (1 Kings 8:23)

   • You are a strong tower, O Lord. We run to You for safety. (Proverbs 18:10)

   • We trust, Lord, in Your unfailing love.

2. Gaza – The situation has become increasingly heated in recent days with more violence and also more talk about a possible ceasefire. Hamas deserves that Israel come in and destroy them, but what would be the cost in terms of innocent lives on both sides? We desire God’s wisdom and timing for Israel’s leaders.

   • May those living in Israel’s communities around the Gaza border be protected and know Your presence.

   • May they find You a strong tower they can run to and be safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

   • Let them cry out to You for comfort, for courage and for healing. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God (Psalm 18:6)

   • Protect them from anger and bitterness.

   • Deliver the children from lasting damage as a result of the constant stress.

   • Use those in the communities who are believers in Yeshua as lights to those around them. (Philippians 2:15)

   • Give wisdom to Israel’s leaders that they would know what Israel ought to do. (1 Chronicles 12:32) Give unity to the security cabinet and to the government. Protect them from manipulation by world opinion.

   • Raise up opposition to Hamas. Cause Israel’s enemies to be divided. Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. (Psalm 129:5)

   • Please give us a lasting solution to this constant nagging evil!

   • Bless, protect and use the believers in Gaza.

   • Bless and protect Israel’s soldiers who are physically standing in the gap between Israel and her enemies.

   • Make all the believing soldiers a source of strength and courage to their fellows. (Psalm 31:24)

   • Defend Israel’s soldiers and civilians from all kidnapping attempts.

   • Prepare all the reservists who may need to be called up for active duty. (2 Samuel 22:35)

   • Set Your angels to guard over Israel’s borders. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. (Psalm 34:7)

   • Expose the lies in much of the media coverage about Gaza and let the truth be told. To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. (Proverbs 2:12-13)

3. UNRWA – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency takes care of Palestinian refugees. All other refugees are taken care of by UNHCR [UN High Commission for Refugees]. Only UNRWA considers the children of refugees as refugees, thus dramatically increasing the number of Palestinians considered refugees from generation to generation. The USA is telling the truth about UNRWA and withdrawing its funding.

   • Thank You, Lord that the Americans are now speaking out and removing funding from UNRWA.

   • And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you freeJohn 8:32

   • Break the delusion among the Palestinians worldwide that they are going to come ‘home’ to their own land. Set them free to live their lives now where they are rather than dreaming about something false.

4. Israeli Government – new events in the past weeks have increased the likelihood that Israel will need to hold early elections in the beginning of 2019. The next elections are due in November of 2019 so the present government has done quite well [by Israel’s usual standards] in lasting most of its full term.

   • Thank you for the relative stability of the present coalition government.

   • Please glorify Yourself in our government and its leaders.

   • May Israel’s next elections be held in Your perfect time.

   • Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.1 Timothy 2:1-3

   • We ask Your blessing and anointing and guiding of Bibi Netanyahu, Avigdor Liberman, Moshe Kahlon, Naftali Bennett, Aryeh Deri and Yaakov Litzman, who are the leaders of the different parties which form part of the current coalition government.

   • Direct the next elections so that those who You choose will be elected and those You don’t want will not be elected.

   • Impress upon Bibi Netanyahu the responsibility he has to prepare someone to take over the role of Prime Minister when his days are completed. [As Elijah was instructed to anoint Elisha to replace him. (1 Kings 19:16)]

5. The Body of Messiah

   • Lord, thank You that there is a growing Body of believers in Yeshua in Israel today.

   • May we take seriously the mandate You have given us in 1 Timothy chapter 2 to pray for our leaders and our nation, and recognize this as a requirement rather than an option.

   • May our united cry be, Lord, teach us to pray! (Luke 11:1)

6. Salvation of Israel

   • Please Lord, remove the veil from the eyes of Your people. (2 Corinthians 3:13-18)

   • Wake them up, Lord!

   • And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.Jeremiah 29:13

   • Use the believers to reveal You to Israel. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

   • Bring salvation to the following groups in Israeli society:

   • Holocaust survivors, who may have little time left – melt their hearts.

   • Teachers, who have huge influence over the younger generation.

   • Healthcare workers.

   • Young people who may be searching or travelling after their army service. Reveal Yourself to them!

   • New immigrants – as they establish a new identity living in the land, may they find their true identity in You.

   • Settlers who are in love with the land. May they fall in love with their Messiah who also loves His land.

   • Haredim [Ultra-Orthodox Jews]. Reveal Yourself to them, even this Shabbat, in their zeal to know God.

   • The poor and hungry. I was hungry and you gave Me food (Matthew 25:35)

   • Nominal Christians. May they find real life!

   • People in Gaza, even leaders of Hamas!

   • Small children. Give them dreams and visions. (Joel 2:28)

   • The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.2 Peter 3:9

Chuck Cohen continues his ministry trip in Norway. May the Lord anoint his words, protect his travels and refresh him in body, soul and spirit!

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team!

Yeshua, Holy and Anointed One, Risen and Exalted One, we love You!