1. Praise: Seeing the chaotic situation in the political realm of Israel after what we thought was a definite answer to our prayers concerning the recent Israeli elections, we needed to reaffirm that our God does still reign – and to rest in His overriding sovereignty.

    • YHWH has established His throne in the heavens; and His kingdom rules over all.Psa. 103:19

    • Thank You that You never change (Mal. 3:6).

    • You are the God who sees what was, what is and what will be; nothing surprises You (Gen. 22:14).

    • Hallelujah! We may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future (Isa. 42:9)!

    • We are so grateful that when we lack wisdom we can, in faith, ask You (Jam. 1:5-8).

    • We praise You for being a God who actually delights in the prayers of Your people (Prov. 15:8b).

    • Lord Yeshua, we are grateful that ultimately the government is on Your shoulders (Isa. 9:6-7).

    • We confess that You are Lord. You have risen from the dead and You are Lord (Acts 2:32-36). We bow our knees and confess with our tongues that You – Messiah Yeshua – are Lord. (Phil. 2:9-11).

  2. Elections: Since the elections, the waters have gotten very muddy as to what the real outcome will be. For the third time, a majority of Israeli Jews voted to have Bibi Netanyahu remain as Israel's prime minister, yet the opposition, including the anti-Zionist Arab party – thinks it knows what is best for the rest of us. So a law may be passed quickly prohibiting someone indicted – although not yet found guilty – from forming a government. This would overturn the election results and make it almost impossible for Netanyahu to be the leader again. While finding this very frustrating and at times being very upset over this situation, we hear the Lord say, "Stay the course." So we first prayed for God to prevent any further division and confusion in this nation at this time.

    • We thank You for answering our prayers for a victory for Bibi and the right wing (1 John 5:14-15).

    • Lord, raise up a standard against the enemy's efforts to overturn this (Isa. 59:19b).

    • Hinder all plans against Israel having a government in which You can be glorified (Psa. 115:1-3).

    • Blessed is YHWH, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth.Psa. 124:6-8

    • Supernaturally, please prevent a spirit of division from prevailing in Your nation (Ezek. 37:19).

    • Reveal to the opposition the division and confusion that hatred for Bibi is causing (Prov. 10:12).

    • As you worked behind the scenes in the Book of Esther, so do again today (Est. 6:1-2).

  3. Government: We prayed for Netanyahu and his Likud party to have wisdom at this time. As we face this unsettled period within Israel, we need to cover in prayer the current leaders.

    • May Bibi have and understanding of what needs to happen and how (1 Chr. 12:32).

    • Bless Netanyahu with an ability to stay focused and listen to good advice (Prov. 15:22).

    • Give him Your sense of priorities (Prov. 19:21).

    • Surround him with people who are not in politics who will encourage him (Prov. 20:5).

    • As there are things in his life which are not pleasing to You – as in all of us – shine the light of Your truth on those areas and draw him to Yourself (Psa. 69:18; 73:28)..

  4. Government: If we are to stay the course, we need to press on with our requests for the new government to be in line with God's will as revealed in His Word.

    • Lord, grace us with political leaders who will fulfill Jeremiah 23:3-4 and truly care for Your people.

    • Continue to clear out the garbage and raise up righteous judges and counselors (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Establish a government with a real heart to see the outcasts of Jacob to return home (Isa. 11:12).

    • Provide courageous leaders who know that Israel's security is their #1 priority (Rom. 13:1-4).

    • Help Israel's next government to know that Iran as Israel's greatest threat and to understand how to deal with it at this time (Psa. 41:11).

    • Create a government that can restore the correct balance between the legislature and the judiciary.

    • Raise up leaders with a spirit of Jacob and not with a spirit of Esau (Mal. 1:2-3; Heb. 12:16).

    • Impart to Israel's next finance minister wisdom from on high (Psa. 15:5).

    • Enable the next government to aid the ultra-Orthodox in becoming more integrated into society.

    • We trust that since the government is already on Your shoulders, You will do all that is needed to guard Israel's restoration – for Your holy name's sake (Isa. 9:6-7; Matt. 28:18; Ezek. 36:23-25).

  5. Thanksgiving: One could easily panic over Israel's current dilemma in which a 4th election is preferable to a government led by Blue & White's Benny Gantz, which would be supported by the Arab Joint List party and Avigdor Liberman, both from outside the government. Yet in the Word, we are often exhorted to remember the great things that God has already done so that courage and hope are birthed in us as we face an unknowable future.

    • You shall not be afraid of them, but shall well remember what YHWH your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt. (Deut. 7:18); Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of YHWH our God. (Psa. 20:7); Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth, seed of His servant Abraham, sons of Jacob His chosen. He is YHWH our God; His judgments are in all the earth. (Psa. 105:5-7)

    • Lord, we thank You for answering so many of our prayers (Psa. 50:15).

    • Bless You for giving Israel a prime minister like Netanyahu to lead them this last decade (Jer. 3:15).

    • Thank You for guarding over this nation over the past 140 years of its modern rebirth (Jer. 31:10).

    • Thank You that Israel was born in a day (Nov. 29. 1947) as per Your prophetic word (Isa. 66:6-10).

    • We praise You that today's IDF is a fulfillment of Ezekiel 37:10.

    • In 1967 You gave back to Israel Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem and the Golan in six days! Hallelujah!

    • We bless You for You are not only regathering Israel's outcasts – but at the same time You are building up Jerusalem (Psa. 147:2).

    • Thank You that Israel today has more Jews than any other nation in the world (Ezek. 39:27-29).

    • What a joy to hear of nations being blessed by what comes out of Zion (Zech. 8:13-15).

    • You have answered prayers, making Israel's economy one of the world's strongest (Deut. 28:11-12).

    • Lord Yeshua, we rejoice the miraculous growth of the Israeli Body of Messiah today. [On] this rock [the confession that Yeshua is "the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (v. 16)] I will build My church, and the gates of hell [hades – death] shall not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:18)

  6. Corona-phobia: In Israel medical experts are giving one set of information, stressing practical measures for prevention of acquiring the virus. The government is reacting with wide ranging measures that are having an effect on the economy, on airlines, tourism and educational facilities. Without question, the virus is dangerous, but responses seem to be disproportionate and inconsistent. The fear that accompanies all of these decisions is resulting in distrust and disruption.

    • We ask You, Father, for authoritative voices providing calm and consistency. The voice of YHWH is powerful. The voice of the YHWH is full of majesty…YHWH will give strength to His people.  YHWH will bless His people with peace. (Psa. 29:4, 11)

    • Guard Israelis from a spirit of fear and let Your truth result in appropriate precautions (Prov. 23:23).

    • You are the God of truth. Use Your truth to bring us out of fear (2 Tim. 1:7).

    • Bless Israel's government ministries with knowledge, unity and readiness to effectively manage the situation (Gal. 6:9).

    • In Your mercy, Abba, contain the spread of the corona virus in Israel (Ex. 8:22).

    • As nYou have spoken of pestilence in the last days (Matt. 24:7), enable Your body to stand on Psalm 91:9-10 and to use our confidence in You as a place of sharing the truth of who You are (1 Pet. 3:15).

  7. Security: Even with the confusion of the election results, Israel's security concerns remain.

    • Thank You that during this transition time, Netanyahu is still Israel's Prime Minister (Psa. 80:17).

    • We bless You for the job as defense minister that Naftali Bennett is doing (Psa. 75:5-7).

    • Thank o for the IDF's Chief of Staff Kochavi. Continue to give him wisdom from above on how to prepare this nation and the IDF to fight the next war and not the last one (Prov. 16:1).

    • Surround all three of these men with godly counselors (Prov. 24:6).

    • Bring them into a godly unity (Eph. 4:3).

    • We know that You are the One who guards Israel (Psa. 121:4), yet we also see that very often You use Israel's armed forces as Your instrument to work through (Isa. 41:10-16; Mic. 4:11-13). Thank You for guarding this nation whichever way You choose to do it.

    • We pray for all the IDF commanders – in the north, the central and the south, as well as the head of the new Iran Command. Impart to each Your thoughts and plans (Prov. 16:9; 21:1).

    • Bless the heads of the Israeli Air Force and Navy with a fresh anointing to do all that You have raised them up for at this time (Est. 4:14b).

    • Lord, aid the IDF's cyberwarfare divisions be at the cutting edge of their area of expertise.

    • Continue to provide all the actionable intelligence that Israel needs and the wisdom to know what to do with that which is revealed (Job 12:22; Prov. 24:3).

  8. Salvation: Purim [March 10-11 in Israel] celebrates when God protected and saved the Jews in Babylon who had refused to return to Israel when the doors were opened.

    • Thank You for reminding us that You are always at work, protecting even those who have wandered from You. For this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. (Luke 15:24)

    • At this appointed time, please meet with Your people, especially those who refuse to return to Israel and have decided to remain in Babylon (Jer. 50:4-8; 51:8-10)!

    • Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts…as in the day of trial in the wilderness (Psa. 95:8). Lord, instead may Your people say, Oh come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before YHWH our Maker, for He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. (Psa. 95:6-7)

Hag Purim sameach – may you have His joy in your hearts over Purim.

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Zion

The IFI team

One final note: The end result of Esther's intercession and Mordecai's refusal to bow down to man was not only the protection of the Jews in Persia, but the addition to God's people of many gentiles as well! And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal clothing of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple. And the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. And in every province, and in every city where the king's command and his order came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell on them. (Est. 8:15-17)