1. Praise: This week Israel celebrated its 72nd anniversary. A survey taken for Independence Day showed that both Israeli Arabs and Israeli ultra-Orthodox Jews now identify more closely with this nation. The cohesion in Israel exposed by these results is just one more reason to praise our God.

    • Ah Lord YHWH, behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and out stretched arm, so there is nothing too hard for You:gJer. 32:17; cp. v. 27

    • We give You glory that despite the efforts of the devil and his legions – both human and demonic – Israel has just celebrated its 72nd anniversary and is going from strength to strength (Deut. 33:26-29).

    • Lord, You are faithful to watch over Your Word to do it – for Israel and for us (Jer. 1:12).

    • Thank You for regathering and protecting the people whom You had scattered (Jer. 31:10).

    • Bless You for being a living God who delights to answer the prayers of Your people (Prov. 15:8b).

    • What an answer to prayer that both the Arab and ultra-Orthodox/Haredi communities are embracing openly their ties to Israel as their own nation (Num. 15:16).

  2. Salvation of Israel: This week Israelis observed Memorial Day for fallen soldiers & terror victims and then at sunset immediately celebrated Independence Day. Yet because of Covid-19, families were not allowed visit the graves of their loved ones in large numbers or to celebrate in big gatherings. We asked the Lord to take advantage of this unique situation by saving many. While these days are now past, still prayers for the salvation of Israelis are always in line with His will.

    • I bring My righteousness near; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel My glory.Isa. 46:13

    • Abba, let the grieved know that You also know how it feels to lose a Son (Psa. 22:1).

    • God of all comfort, continue to comfort Your people today (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

    • Confound all the atheists and confront all the agnostics with the miracle not only of Israel's rebirth – but its continued existence and prosperity (Isa. 61:6-9).

    • [Moses] said, 'If I have now found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord…go among us; for it is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your inheritance.' And [God] said, 'Behold, I, even I, make a covenant; before all your people I will do wonders such as have not been done in all the earth, or in any nation: and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of YHWH: for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you'. (Ex. 34:9-10) Amen!

    • As many Israelis are still locked away from family and friends, speak to them in that still small voice that showed Elijah You were with him (1 Kin. 19:12-13a; Psa. 46:10).

    • Move on all Jews who are still in isolation, to decide to read Your Word (Isa. 55:11).

  3. Salvation of Muslims: We are in the month of Ramadan, the holy month in Islam. Muslims in Israel and the Middle East are dealing with a very different situation as many mosques are closed and large family gatherings to break their daylight long fast are forbidden. We prayed for many Muslims to have a revelation of the Jewish Savior, the One who loves them, Israel's King and Messiah, Yeshua.

    • The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.Isa. 9:2

    • Lord, as this perfectly describes Muslims, please let Your light shine on them today (John 8:12).

    • Abba, we bless our enemies and ask You to make them our family – through Your Son (Matt. 5:44).

    • Many of them are also Your enemies God (Psa. 83:1-2). Yet we were once Your enemies, and still You died for us, so we pray that You would reveal this love to them as well (Rom. 5:10).

    • Lord Yeshua, take advantage of the lockdown and closed mosques to speak to these, Your enemies, through dreams and visions – like You did to Paul, who was also Your enemy (Acts 9:3-7).

    • Lord, please protect all the ex-Muslim believers in Israel and throughout the ME (Psa. 91:14-16).

    • Give them wisdom to know how to talk about You during Ramadan (Eph. 6:19).

    • Anoint all the outreaches to the Islamic world, especially by the internet (Isa. 61:1-2a).

    • With Muslims immigrating to the West, the Islamic mission field has moved next door to many Christians. Give the boldness to share the Risen Messiah with their neighbors (Matt. 9:37-38).

  4. Israel & Covid-19 – Exit Strategy: Israel is still far ahead of most nations in the percentage of people who get infected and ultimately die from this coronavirus. Now the government is trying to devise an "exit-strategy" to restart normal life and reignite the economy.

    • Thank You for this answer to prayer to protect Your people (Psa. 50:15).

    • We praise You that we are living in that time when You do "favor" Zion (Psa. 102:13).

    • As Israeli authorities plan the steps to remove the lockdown, please guide them (Psa. 32:8).

    • Enable the authorities to see the total picture and how to get from here to the exit (Jer. 10:23).

    • Do not allow their reaction to what is urgent hinder them from doing what is important.

    • May the exit-strategy be so effective and innovative that it becomes another way for Israel to be a light to the rest of the world (Gen. 12:2; Isa. 60:3).

    • Help the authorities to communicate clearly their plans to the Israeli people (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

    • If possible, raise up one person who will communicate to the public, as opposed to a vast array of confusing and conflicting voices (1 Cor. 14:7-8).

    • With a wise plan and clear communications, aid the citizens to comply (Prov. 8:15).

    • Give Israelis a willing heart to take jobs that are less than what they think they deserve (1 Pet. 5:6).

    • Use the Bank of Israel as a positive influence in jump-starting the economy (Ex. 22:25).

    • We ask You, as the owner of all wealth, to help Israel's economic recovery (Psa. 50:10; Hag. 2:8).

    • Inspire the tourism industry to know what its next steps should be in its recovery (1 Chr. 2:15).

    • Bring Arab and ultra-Orthodox leaders into these decisions so that their people will also cooperate.

    • Release the IDF from being overly involved with policing the anti-Covid-19 policies (1 Chr. 6:32).

    • Help the Israeli police and Border Guards know how to effectively guide the citizens and to deal with the common people with as much understanding, patience and mercy as possible (Rom. 13:3-5).

    • Use this pandemic to force Israel to review its relations with the Chinese authorities (Jer. 9:8).

  5. Israel & Covid-19 – Domestic violence: It is no surprise, yet painful, to hear of reports of an uptick in domestic abuse – both between spouses and parents and children. Being stuck in one home together, with all the other pressures and uncertainties of this plague, is not easy – even for born-again believers. And there is also the smaller space in Israeli homes and the economic strain. There are many other reasons for this increase in domestic violence – but there are no excuses.

    • Lord, have mercy on all the families whom You have planted in this land (Isa. 37:31).

    • Enable parents to deal with children in love even when they need to be disciplined (Eph. 6:4).

    • Pour out much grace and love between the husband and wife (Eph. 5:22-31).

    • Give love and patience to adult children who have elderly parents living with them (Eph. 6:2-3).

    • May we see in these families under stress, the outworking of Romans 8:28, as they are the called.

    • Lord Yeshua, through Your Spirit, reveal Yourself as the only Comforter of Israel (John 14:16).

    • Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.Matt. 11:28

  6. Government: A unity agreement was signed between Bibi Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, yet there are still roadblocks to be passed before Israel has a permanent operating government.

    • Lord, we give You no rest until You provide Israel a government in line with Your will (Isa. 62:6-7).

    • If this government is of You, forbid anyone from hindering its creation (Job 5:12; Luke 1:51).

    • Since the Supreme Court has decided to judge early next week on whether Bibi can even form a government and whether this unity agreement is in line with what they think is right, we ask You to use them. If this government is of You, then let them let it be (Prov. 21:1)).

    • If this unity government is not of You – then let them hinder it (Psa. 37:30)!

    • Regardless of the outcome, we will give You the glory, for You sit as King over all (Psa. 103:19).

    • Keep Your hand on Bibi Netanyahu as all this is happening so that he does not get distracted from that which is important (Psa. 80:17),

    • If the government is formed, with a massive number of ministries to be handed out, please oversee the appointing of Your chosen person for each ministry (Dan. 2:21; Matt. 3:9).

    • If Gantz will eventually be Israel's next prime minister, let Netanyahu quietly mentor him about how to do this job and do it well (1 Tim. 5:17; Tit. 1:5).

  7. Security: Defense Minister Naftali Bennett recently said that Israel has gone from preventing Iranian weapons shipments to Hizbullah through Syria to offensively making it clear to Iran that it needs to get out of Syria now. This is an answer to our prayers for Israel that they would have courage and wisdom to pre-empt as needed. And just this week Israel struck an Iranian-Hizbullah complex outside of Damascus killing several Iranians and also hit other targets closer to the Golan.

    • God of Israel, may You alone be the deciding factor on how Israel responds to the constant Iranian threats to annihilate Your resurrected nation (Psa. 20:7-9).

    • While Israel prepares its horses for battle, we look to You for the victory (Prov. 21:31).

    • You are my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies: through Your name we will tread them under that rise up against us.Psa. 44:4-5

    • Continue to download Your strategies and tactics to Israel's military leaders (Josh. 5:13-6:5).

    • Use the next defense minister [Gantz?] as effectively as You have used Bennet (2 Sam. 23:8-9).

    • Thank You for the IDF's new Iran Command unit specifically formed to deal with this threat.

    • Thank You for continuing to anoint Israel's intelligence services (Job 12:22).

    • Aid them to discern between that which is unnecessary data and that which is vital (2 Sam. 14:17).

    • Expose all of Iran's demonic activities against Israel (1 Cor. 4:5).

    • As Israel moves more towards using more unmanned weapons systems, please give wisdom to and protect the men and women who are actually manning the unmanned systems (Psa. 83:3).

    • We have just observed Memorial Day for Israel's fallen soldiers. We thank You for these young men and women who were willing to die so that others might live (John 15:13).

    • Lord, we also thank You for the recent Jerusalem Post editorial cautioning the world to not ignore the Iranian threat while in the midst of fighting Covid-19 (Isa. 21:6).

    • Lord Yeshua, allow Your Church to see that You often need to fulfill Your prophetic Word through real bloodshed and death (Rom. 5:10; Heb. 9:14; Rev. 1:5; 19:13).

    • Protect the growing Iranian Church from all spirits of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism (Rom. 11:18).

    • Weaken the hold on the Iranian people from their wicked leaders (Jer. 49:38).

  8. Security: There is a global assault on Israel over its plans to annex parts of its God-promised heartland of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. Also, the head of the International Criminal Court in The Hague has just decided that "Palestine" is a nation so now they can take Israel to court. Both of these issues fall under the category of what David prophesied in Psalm 2.

    • Why do the nations rage and the people devise vanities? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers unite together, against YHWH, and against His anointed, saying, 'Let us tear off their bands, and throw off their cords. He that sits in the heavens mocks: the Lord taunts them. Then He shall threaten them in His wrath, and terrify them in His burning anger.Psa. 2:1-6

    • Lord, we know You will have the last laugh, but until then, please defend Your nation from Your enemies onslaughts (Psa. 83:1-4).

    • God, scatter Your enemies who are against Your people possessing the land (Psa. 68:1; Obad. 1:17).

    • Thank You that Bibi has made this annexation a major part of the unity agreement (Amos 9:13-15).

    • Strengthen and bless US President Trump and his administration as they are really the only ones in the world supporting Israel to do what is on line with Your Word (Num. 24:9b).

    • Warn churches in the EU of the judgment on their nations, as some have already threatened Israel diplomatically if it moves forward to do that which You have told it to do (Joel 3:1-2).

    • Lord Yeshua, lift off the blindness from the true Church – many of whom also resist this fulfillment of Your prophetic promises (Jer. 32:41- 44; Joel 3:1-2; Zech. 8:1-8).

  9. Aliyah & Independence Day: There are reports that the Jewish Agency is expecting a massive move of Jews back to Israel once international flights are reinstated.

    • Abba, it seems clear to us that You are using this coronavirus as one of those hunters You promised to release to drive Your people back home (Jer. 16:16).

    • Please aid multitudes to take advantage of this season and to actually walk their talk and return.

    • Warn all Israelis living outside of this land to come home now (Jer. 50:28; Rev. 18:4)!

    • Speak to all the Jews who planned to celebrate Passover in Israel but were not able to this year, that the best way to avoid this in the future is to make Israel their home today (Jer. 3:18).

    • As Jews in exile celebrate Israel's Independence Day, make them sick and tired of being a bystander as they watch this prophetic fulfillment from afar. Then, Abba, draw them home (Jer. 31:3-5).

    • Use the concern of raising children as Jews in exile encourage them to return to Israel (Jer. 31:17).

    • Lord Yeshua, we hear of a lack of finances for Jewish groups who are helping carry Your people back. We need to ask, where is the gentile members of Your Church (Rom. 15:27)?

    • Open up their eyes to see their obligation and responsibility to carry Your people back home and to bless Your people financially (Isa. 49:22; 60:4-9).

    • Lord, please turn the many empty cruise ships into those prophesied ships of Tarshish (Isa. 60:9).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Jerusalem,

The IFI team