1. We began with reading Psalm 91.

    • He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. His truth shall be your shield and buckler.Psalm 91:1-4

    • Thank You that you are our protector and the shield of Israel. (Psalm 9:9)

    • You are our glory and the lifter of our heads. (Psalm 3:3)

    • We are humbled before You when we remember that

    • though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly.Psalm 138:6

    • Your name is to be praised from the rising of the sun until its going down. (Psalm 113:3)

    • We remember that in everything it is Your will that we give thanks. (I Thessalonians 5:18)

    • Thank You that we are rooted and grounded in love. (Ephesians 3:17)

    • Our hearts are overwhelmed as we reflect that we have been called the children of God. (1 John 3:1)

  2. Gaza - Within the last few days, hostilities between Hamas in Gaza and Israel have begun to heat up again. Several incendiary devices have been flown over the border resulting in fires which have lead to retaliatory strikes which in return have lead to the launching of a rocket last evening. We are grateful that no one was injured when the rocket hit an occupied building.

    • Your promise is that a thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. (Psalm 91:7) May this be true of their rockets.

    • Lord of Hosts, please give Your strategy and tactics to our military leaders in their decision making. Help them to understand if this is purely diversion or something more serious. (James 1:5-6)

    • Protect those in the communities on the Gaza border and grant peace and comfort to them. (Psalm 91:5)

    • May You be the shield and defense of our soldiers who are on duty this weekend. (Psalm 18:35) Place Your angels along the border.

    • Meet our enemies with Your power and turn to You.

    • Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek Your name, O Lord.  Let them be confounded and dismayed forever; yes, let them be put to shame and perish, that they may know that You, whose name alone is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth.Psalm 83:17-18

    • May Your name be magnified beyond the borders of Israel. (Malachi 1:5)

  3. Iran - We have been watching Iran’s fingers stretching out beyond its borders for years, seeing their influence expanding in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. That reach and aggression has been extending recently into other areas of the Middle East. This week, two tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman and it is considered that Iran was responsible for the attack. Our prayers are focused on Israel and its preparedness to respond to what is happening around us.

    • Father, the fingers of Iran are reaching around the world. Give our military and political leaders a wide, clear view of the dangers that surround us on every side.

    • Intercept and reveal the hidden things. (2 Kings 6:12) Download Your strategy to those who make the decisions.

    • We ask You for pinpoint, accurate, actionable intelligence. Protect those who provide it and keep them hidden.

    • May Your hand be on the Air Force pilots who fly missions in and out of Syria. Take them out in safety and bring them back safely with their missions completed successfully. (Psalm 121:8)(Isaiah 31:5)

    • Watch over our navy as they guard our sea ways. Prevent the enemy from using the paths of the sea for attack or transport of goods that are intended for evil. (Psalm 8:6-8)

  4. Interim government - As we are leading up to a second election within a few months, we need to hold up the current government in prayer. Because it is in a sense a holding government, it does not have the power for sweeping legislation. Yet it holds the responsibility for important decisions. While possible changes to the judicial system are being discussed, they will probably not be implemented. But the budget for the next two years will be voted on this week.

    • We are reminded that the government is on Your shoulders. Be mighty on behalf of our nation. (Isaiah 9:6)

    • Give us excellence in our leadership at this time.

    • When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, the people groan.Proverbs 29:2

    • Release in the hearts of our current government a desire for the good of the nation. Hold back those who are working only for their own agendas. Protect from manipulation of a vulnerable government. (Micah 6:8)

    • May this government be characterized by truth and righteousness. (Psalm 85:10-13)

  5. Elections - One of the areas of this new election that is of concern is the coalitions of the smaller parties. Since the formation of the new government after the elections will be based on coalitions with these smaller parties, and the last coalition negotiations failed due to an inability to gain a consensus with these small parties, it behooves us to pray for the Lord’s hand in the formation of these smaller groups which in the end hold such power.

    • As these small groups are now reforming into coalitions to stand for election, form these groups along Your lines of approval.

    • Prevent coalitions of groups that You do not want to work together. Break up unholy alliances.

    • Provide us with sincere coalitions that desire the good of Israel rather than just their own agendas.

    • Enable the voters to see what is in men’s hearts and so discern where to vote.

    • Speak to Your believing body in Israel to know how to vote. Preserve us from voting from a place of offense. (Galatians 6:9)

    • Galvanize Your body to pray rather than criticize.

    • 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.1 Timothy 2:1-2

  6. Netanyahu - Over the last months, as he has been facing ever increasing pressures both politically and personally, we have felt that Netanyahu is sometimes making decisions based on desperation. We need to lift him up at this time so the Lord can work in him.

    • Remove from him any sense of desperation and turn his focus to You. Stop him from making unholy alliances and keep him from going to “Egypt” for help. (Isaiah 31:1)

    • Restore his soul and renew his mind and spirit. (Psalm 23:3)

    • Enable him to lean on You completely.

    • Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 3:5-6

    • Build his house, both politically and personally. (Psalm 127:1)

  7. IFI leadership - Eliyahu Ben Haim, the chairman of IFI, was hospitalized this week with a severe infection that lead to an emergency amputation of his leg.

    • May You hold Eliyahu and may he know Your presence and comfort at this time.

    • Comfort and strengthen his family. (2 Corinthians 1:4)

    • Protect Eliyahu and his family from a spirit of discouragement. (1 Samuel 30:6)

    • We ask for the Lord’s hand upon the doctors and medical staff for wisdom.

    • Be with the IFI staff as they step into the breach and carry on with the ministry.

Further information on Eliyahu’s situation will be shared on the Friday prayer points. Urgent updates of need for prayer will also be sent out from this site.

Shabbat Shalom from the IFI team. May the Lord bless you from Zion.