1. Praise: As we enter into this new year and new decade, we started by thanking God for all His promises of making all things "new".

    • So that if anyone is in Messiah, that one is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.2 Cor. 5:17

    • Lord, we bless You for the New Covenant that You made with Israel which is now available for all who enter in it by Messiah Yeshua (Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:8-12).

    • Hallelujah! Your mercies are new every morning (Eccl. 3:22-23).

    • We bless You for renewing our strength as we continue to seek You (Isa. 40:31-40:1).

    • As we look back on Your answers, it creates new hope to press on in intercession (Luke 18:1).

    • Thank You for reminding us to not idolize whatever is "new" just because it is new (Jer. 6:16).

    • Lord, thank You for the new growth after the rains that make this land even more beautiful.

  2. Security: One of Israel's most dangerous enemy leader was eliminated yesterday by a USA drone strike on Bagdad's airport. General Qassim Solemani was the Iranian head of its IRGC division that spreads terror worldwide and has been very active in Syria near Israel recently. Others were killed in this strike – including the head of the Iraqi terror group that is an Iranian proxy. Iran's vows to retaliate will include Israel – as America's number one ally.

    • Lord, thank You for removing this very dangerous person (Eccl. 3:17).

    • Aid the IDF to not miss anything it needs to know to be able to defend this nation (Psa. 41:2).

    • Only if it is Your will, then let Israel take advantage of this new situation.

    • Bring much confusion and fear on the Iranian leaders (Psa. 129:5).

    • Let Your fear fall so heavily on them that they cry out to You for mercy (Eccl. 3:14; Dan. 6:26).

    • You have struck the shepherd of this terror organization. Now scatter the sheep (Zech. 13:7).

    • Impart great wisdom to the Iranian Church to know how to pray into this situation (Col. 1:9).

    • Thank You for the snow that is forecast for Israel's north for the next days. Use it to confound all attempts of revenge or retaliation by Iranian proxies against this nation (Job 38:22-23).

  3. Security – Judea, Samaria & Jerusalem: PA President Abbas is old, yet still in charge. The PA's leaders continually curse Israel and distort history to erase Jewish rights to this land. Now Abbas is threatening Israel with another uprising/intifada because Israel is finally withholding monies from them that are used to support terrorists in prison. Also, he is upset that Israel, with Egypt, is trying to attain a "calm" period with Hamas in Gaza.

    • Lord, these areas are part of Your inheritance promise to Israel and we thank You for restoring it to Your nation in the 1967 Six-Day War.

    • Forbid that it be divided anymore – at any time – for anything whatsoever (Lev. 25:23).

    • Place in the IDF people with the same spirit that was on the sons of Issachar (1 Chr. 12:32).

    • As You only know the end from the beginning, we trust You explicitly (Isa. 46:9-10).

    • Send angelic protection for all travelers and the communities in Your land (Psa. 91:11).

    • Provide divine protection for all the civilians and soldiers in these areas (Psa. 121:4).

    • Aid IDF soldiers to discern innocent Palestinians from those with hatred in their hearts.

    • Uncover all intelligence information that the IDF is missing (Psa. 139:12).

    • He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my tower; I shall not be greatly moved.Psa. 62:2
    • In the day of my trouble I will call on You; for You will answer me.Psa. 86:7

  4. Antisemitism & aliyah: The current, very sudden, rise of overt anti-Semitic attacks in most Western nations, especially in America, is so overwhelming that unless we step back and view this through the filter of God's Word it makes very little sense. Yet as intercessors and watchmen that is exactly what we are called to do as we hear Messiah's footsteps drawing nearer.

    • Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is.Mark 13:33
    • But the end of all things is near. Therefore be sober-minded, and watch unto prayer.1 Pet. 4:7

    • Lord, let the Jews in the West see that they are being forced to live life as Jews underground.

    • Remove their pride that says, They will not chase us out of here! Let them know that for the Jew that only applies to the land of Israel (Jer. 50:4-5).

    • As we see the hunters released (Jer. 16:16), use them to accomplish Your goal – a return to Your Land of Your scattered people (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • Abba, thank You that Jews are safer here than anywhere else. Not "safe" – but safer (Psa. 121:4)!

    • With as much mercy as possible, do whatever it takes to draw Your people home, as Your reputation is at stake (Ezek. 36:22-24).

    • I have loved you with an eternal love; therefore with covenant-love I have drawn you.Jer. 31:3

    • Wake up the Jews in the UK to recognize that they just barely escaped a Corbyn government, and that millions of their fellow citizens voted for him and his Labour party (Jer. 51:9-10).

    • Cry out through prophetic voices to US Jews that their time in exile is over (Jer. 12:15; 20:8).

    • Lord Yeshua, wake up Your Church to its responsibilities to carry Your people back physically, spiritually and even financially (Isa. 49:22; Jer. 31:7-9; Isa. 60:3-12; Rom. 15:27).

  5. Government: We linked that last prayer burden to a request for a new Israeli government [elections March 2nd] that will make aliyah a top priority.

    • Abba, give Israel a government that has a heart to see the scattered Jews regathered (Jer. 32:41).

    • Allow a good government - as You define good – to be formed in the next election (Psa. 45:1).

    • A government that will do Your will as You work in the hearts of the various minister (Prov. 21;1).

    • Raise up Your specifically anointed people to lead each of the various ministries (Dan. 4:17b, 25b).

    • Lord, please miraculously rearrange all of the many important priorities so that this nation can be a light to the rest of the world (Eccl. 3:1; Isa. 60:3; 1 Cor. 14:33).

    • Remove all stumbling stones and allow the doors of Israel to be open to all Jews (Isa. 62:10).

    • Reroute as much money as is necessary from Israel's soon-to-be-realized huge natural gas profits to aid in the return and planting of Your people into Your land. He shall cause those who come from Jacob to take root; Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. (Isa. 27:6)

  6. PM Bibi Netanyahu: Bibi has asked for an immunity law to be passed so that he can continue in his position without being distracted. This is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Once his term is over, then he will need to defend himself against his accusers. Most democracies have a provision like this so that the prime minster/president is not always distracted by his opponents, and not able to do that for which the majority of people voted him in to do.

    • Lord, this nation is not to be like any other nation (Num. 23:9). Therefore, we simply ask that if this immunity request is of You – let it pass (Luke 11:2).

    • Move on the hearts of the government ministers who will need to decide (Prov. 19:21).

    • Deal with this confusing situation. By Your sword, cut through this Gordian knot (1 Chr. 21:30)!

    • Whatever You chose to do, we ask that this will be settled quickly (2 Chr. 29:36).

  7. The Israeli Messianic Body: This young, growing body is dealing with some very difficult issues at this time.

    • Lord, we thank You for building Your Body directly in the face of hell's gates (Matt. 16:18).

    • Aid the elders to guard the unity of the Spirit – and not just a nice, but unbiblical, humanistic unity (Eph. 4:3).

    • Give the Israeli Body wisdom to know what is essential from what is not essential. [An oft-repeated saying in Church history is: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all else love.]

    • Let the truth of Your Word be the standard for all that we say and do (3 John 3:4).

    • Let truth rule over unity (John 17:17)!

    • We proclaim the truth of Messiah Yeshua – God the Son, totally human and totally divine (Psa. 2:12; Isa. 7:9; 9:6-7; Mark 2:28; 4:40-41; Revelation 1:1-22:21!).

    • Enable each believer to actually hear what their brothers and sisters are saying, without it being distorted by expectations (Mark 7:14).

    • Enable us to be able to communicate clearly (1 Pet. 4:11a).

    • Thank You for sound doctrine that is clearly spoken in love (Eph. 4:15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

    • Wake up Israeli believers to heed Yeshua's warnings about being deceived in the days before His return (Matt. 24:4-5, 11, 24).

    • Protect this young Body from being manipulated by finances (Matt. 6:19-34).

    • Aid the elders in Israel to stand in their ordained places (Eph. 4:11-12).

    • If there are elders who are actually out of place, move them.

    • May this become true for all the elders of Israel: In that day YHWH of Hosts shall be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, to the rest of His people, and for a spirit of judgment to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle to the gate. (Isa. 28:5-6)

  8. The Body of Messiah worldwide: There is an overt and covert attack on the Body all over the world. It seems that the Church does better under open persecution than trying to fight the politically correct lawfare type of demonic attacks it faces in the West.

    • Lord, wake up the Body in the West to see that most Western nations are post-Christian in doctrine, in morals, etc. Show them how to live in a situation like this (Psa. 39:12; 69:8).

    • Make Your Word very precious to Your children in 2020. Your Words were found, and I ate them; and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; for I am called by Your name, YHWH, the God of Hosts. (Jer. 15:16)

    • Expose and deal with the blasphemous and dangerous Replacement demonic doctrine that robs so many believers of their authority and their ability to really understand Your Word and what You are doing in the world today.

    • Remove all preachers who are not preaching the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

    • Thank You for all the house churches that are springing up (Acts 2:46; Rom. 16:5)

    • Raise up those who are willing to follow You in proclaiming hard things (John 6:60-61).

    • Wherever there is chaos in Your Body, may Your Spirit to move upon it as in creation (Gen. 1:2-4).

    • Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.Psa. 51:12

We finished by thanking God for the water He has poured out on this nation so far. We then asked for more. According to the forecasts it will be snowing on Mount Hermon over the next week and rain over most of the rest of this land. Hallelujah for His goodness to this land. YHWH shall open to you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. And you shall loan to many nations, and you shall not borrow. (Deut. 28:12)

Our prayer for you is that in 2020, you make your aim to be nothing more and nothing less than that God would be glorified in and through your life. Therefore whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:31)

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team