1. Praise: [From Chuck: I asked the Lord if He wanted to say something to us as we enter 2021, which will likely be more chaotic that even 2020. He reminded me of a verse He highlighted to me at the beginning of the last few years. … let us run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Yeshua, the author and finisher of [the One who completes] our faith… (Heb. 12:1b-2a)

   • Lord, we look to and trust in You as we walk into an unknown and unknowable future (2 Cor. 5:7).

   • Precious Shepherd, we thank You for Your promise to lead us for Your name's sake (Psa. 23:3b).

   • We bless You for stating that Your sheep hear Your voice, and trust You to guide us (John 10:27).

   • Thank You for declaring that You will be with us always – even to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20b).

   • Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns today (Psa. 103:19; Rev. 19:6b).

   • Abba, we rejoice in knowing that since You are for us – what can man do against us (Psa. 118:6).

   • You, God, are shaking the world at this time (Heb. 12:25-29) – yet we are safe in You (John 16:33).

   • Thank You for the privilege of being called in to Your kingdom for just a time like this (Est. 4:14b).

2. Israeli elections, March 23rd: The parties that have a chance to form the next government are all from the right wing – yet they do not trust each another. In fact, ex-Likud member Gideon Sa'ar who started the New Hope party said he will not join a government under PM Bibi Netanyahu. All of this infighting splits the conservative wing and Israel's liberally controlled media and courts will use this to undermine those running for office who are more biblically oriented.

   • Since we have asked for new elections if that was Your will, we see these elections as from Your hand. Please guide us in prayer (John 16:13) and guide Israelis when they vote (Psa. 73:24; Jer. 3:4).

   • We are open to hearing from You exactly what You want us to pray for in this area (Amos 3:7).

   • Block a spirit of discouragement from coming upon us as we have prayed about Israeli elections for over two years. "Stay alert and preserve in the faith, be courageous and strong." (1Cor. 16:13)

   • King Yeshua, we affirm that the government rests on Your shoulders (Isa. 9:6-7).

   • Raise up a new generation of politicians through whom You can hasten the manifestation of this specific truth in Israel (Luke 11:2).

   • Lord, we again ask for a government through which You can be glorified (Psa. 115:1-3).

   • God of Israel, move on PM Netanyahu of Likud, Naftali Bennett of Yamina and Gideon Sa'ar of New Hope to see that they need to work together for the good of Your nation (Ezra 3:11a; Jer. 33:14).

   • Continue to clean out the dross in Israel's Knesset – its parliament (Isa. 1:25).

   • At the same time, raise up those righteous leaders in line with Your promise (Isa. 1:26).

   • Turn what is expected to be an ugly campaign from a clash of personalities to competing policies.

3. Government – current items: There are so many important issues to concentrate on that we can only touch them briefly in prayer. May God speak to you about taking one or more of these as a special burden in your times of prayer for Israel.

   1. Covid-19: While Israel is moving full speed ahead in vaccinating its people, yet it has also instituted another lockdown.

      • God, we thank You for Netanyahu's foresight in all aspects of this Covid-19 battle (Psa. 80:17).

      • Lord, only You know whether lockdowns are beneficial or create more problems that they are worth. We ask for Your guidance and Your mercy on Your nation (Psa. 98:3; 130:7; Isa. 14:1).

      • Watch over the logistics of this huge enterprise of vaccinating millions of Israelis (1 Cor. 14:33).

      • Give help to all Hebrew-challenged Israelis so that they can receive the vaccine with understanding.

      • We again thank You for the comparatively low death count in Israel (Ezek. 16:6).

      • Show the authorities Your priorities of whom should be vaccinated first, second, etc. (Prov. 19:21).

      • Do not allow Covid-19 to become more of a political issue than it already is (Num. 16:1-3).

   2. Economy: Unemployment has risen and with it there has been a rise in depression, domestic violence, and other social and mental problems. Yet overall, Israel's economic outlook is good.

      • Abba, You said You would do better for us at this specific time in history when Israel is regathered, than in the beginning (Ezek. 36:11). Please watch over Your promise today (Jer. 1:12).

      • Protect Israel's unemployed from depression and inject hope for their future (Isa. 61:3; Jer. 29:11).

      • Reignite Israel's economy and let it develop into new areas that benefit the world (Isa. 60:3).

      • May the plans to open up Israel for tourism this spring come to fruition (Mic. 4:1-2).

   3. Education: Schools remain open during the lockdown which seems counterproductive, yet for Israel's children's future, it is probably the better way to handle things.

      • Abba, we again remind You of Your promise that all your children shall be taught of YHWH; and great shall be the peace of your children. (Isa. 54:13).

      • Show the parents that they are also responsible to train their children in Your ways (Deut. 6:4-7).

      • Abba Father, use the children to draw their parents closer to You (Psa. 8:2; Matt. 21:16).

      • Shield the school buildings and teachers from being infected by Covid-19 (Psa. 91:3-5).

      • Thank You for remote learning. Let it be used for Israel's good and Your glory (Psa. 85:8-13).

      • Protect all the students from the evil that can come through the internet (Job 31:1; Prov. 3:7).

   4. Diplomacy: There are rumors of other Arab nations wanting to openly establish relations with Israel while Trump is still in the White House.

      • We bless You for the Abrahamic Accords and especially for the warm relations with the UAE and Morocco (Num. 10:29-32; 2 Sam. 15:19-22).

      • Quickly draw in any other nations who want open and honest relations with Israel (Isa. 55:5; 60:3).

      • Turn the cold peace that Israelis have with Egyptians into a warmer peace (Isa. 19:23).

      • Let the surrounding nations come to see that it is You who has restored Israel (Ezek. 36:35-36).

      • Protect Israel's leaders from deception and from joining their hands with any nation with which You do not want them to have relations (Josh. 9:3-15).

      • In particular, guard Israel's relations with Sudan (Prov. 6:1; 11:15).

      • Forbid that any of the "carrots" given to these nations to establish relations with Israel would come back to harm Israel (Psa. 41:9).

      • Use the Arab tourists in Israel and the Israeli tourists in these Arab nations to develop deep person-to-person relationships (Psa. 147:14).

      • Set Israel free from any unbiblical ties with America or any other friendly nation (Num. 23:8-9).

4. Security – Cyberwarfare: This has become a modern mode of warfare, and against Israel and the West, Iran is becoming very proficient in its use.

   • Lord, since You are outside of time, cyberwarfare has not taken You by surprise (Psa. 139:7-12).

   • Please impart Your wisdom to Israel's cyber-experts (Psa. 18:34; Prov. 9:9).

   • We ask for wisdom for these experts like Solomon asked You for it – because this is an area way beyond the ability of man to keep up with (Prov. 8:14-17).

   • Guard over Israel's institutions and industries from cyberwarfare attacks ((Psa. 127:1; Isa. 27:2-6).

   • Set up angelic fire-walls to surround Your nation from all cyber-attacks (Psa. 104:4).

   • Provide protection for all the non-expert users in Israel who surf the web (Prov. 9:1-6).

   • Lord Yeshua, You are now our wisdom, so protect Your Body as we surf the web (1 Cor. 1:30).

5. Security – internal: Terrorism increased in Judea and Samaria as soon as the Palestinians heard there was a chance of Biden becoming the next US President. They hate Trump; he called their bluff and did not put up with their manipulation and playing the victim card when dealing with Israel. They think Biden can be manipulated and who, as Obama's former vice president, is already on their side. Also, Palestinian Authority President Abbas (85 and in poor health), has not named a successor and in all probability there will be a "civil" war to see who takes over once he is gone.

   • Lord, continue to provide Israel's security forces with all the intelligence it needs to protect Israel's citizens and also to protect the innocent Palestinians among whom the terrorists hide (Psa. 18:28-29).

   • Give wisdom to those receiving the intelligence to discern what is real and what is disinformation (1 Kin. 3:9; Eccl. 8:5).

   • Protect Israel's spies and informants among in Judea, Samaria and especially in Gaza (Josh. 2:14).

   • Release Israel to act aggressively against all terrorism and terrorists (Eccl. 8:11).

   • Send a deep spirit of discouragement on all terrorist as they see how often they fail (1 Sam. 4:7-8).

   • Reveal to them how often they fall into the very trap they set for Israelis (Psa. 35:6-8).

   • Confound all those who hate Israel and the Jewish people (Psa. 35:25-26).

   • If a civil war does break out, lead Israel in its response – if any is needed (Prov. 26:17)

   • Protect the Arab tourists from nations that have normalized relations with Israel from the hatred of the Palestinians against them (Psa. 120:7).

   • Block all attempts to restart talks with the Palestinians based on the 1967 borders (Psa. 124:7-8).

   • In fact, we ask that You would never allow Your land to be divided again (Lev. 25:23; Joel 3:1-2).

   • God, direct Israel's government to legalize all Judea and Samaria settlements today (Jer. 32:41-44).

   • In Shabbat's Torah portion, Jacob says to Joseph, God Almighty appeared to me…in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, saying, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and I will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession'. (Gen. 48:3b-4)

   • Also in the Torah portion: Joseph said to his brothers, 'I die, yet God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob'. (Gen. 50:24)

6. Security – external: Israel and America have issued clear warnings to Iran to not do anything foolish before the next US administration takes office. If Biden is America's next leader, the danger to Israel and other Middle East nations increases, as Biden has already said he will take a much more lenient line with the terrorists in charge of Iran.

   • Lord, against the real concern that Iran is planning to take revenge for the many successful attacks against it by Israel and the US over the last year, (likely before the new US President is sworn in on Jan. 20th), and while Israel says it is ready – still we look to You to guard Your nation (Psa. 20:7-9).

   • We thank You that You always watch over Israel (Psa. 121:4).

   • You also said that You are watching over this nation now – during its regathering (Jer. 31:10).

   • Let all accurate actionable intelligence be shared between America and Israel and give them wisdom on how to respond to any immediate threats (1 Chr. 14:15).

   • Show Israel's satellite operators if their satellites need to be shifted one way or another (Psa. 33:13).

   • We bless You for Your ultimate weapon in the midst of Iran today, the Iranian Church (Jer. 49:38a)!

   • May this next year bring great growth in numbers, maturity and intercession to them (2 Pet. 3:18).

7. Aliyah: If the rise of anti-Semitism/anti-Zionism in the West has not moved most Western Jews to flee Babylon, we shiver to think about what it will take! This is a time to pray for mercy on the Jews who refuse to see the handwriting on the walls of "Babylon" and on the internet.

   • Lord, we praise You for the Jewish Agency report that around 20,000 Jews from almost 70 different nations have made aliyah in 2020 – despite all the complications from Covid-19 (Isa. 43:5-7).

   • Prepare Israel to receive many more Jews in the next few years (Jer. 31:8-9).

   • Use the next government to prepare the Negev, the Galilee and the Golan to settle Your people in vast numbers (Jer. 33:12-14), and yet to have wisdom to preserve the ecologies of these areas.

   • Invade Israel's Interior Ministry with a spirit of grace and glad acceptance towards all Jews who want to come home (Jer. 30:3; 33:10-14).

   • Continue to provide finances for all organizations who aid in regathering Your people (Isa. 49:22).

   • Remind Jews in the West that they are saving their life and the life of their children – and not their lifestyle – when they return home (Psa. 14:7).

   • By Your grace, lead those who return to successfully settle in their new home (Jer. 30:18-20).

   • Remind all Jews living in the Exile and who love Your Word – including our Messianic brothers and sisters – that they are singing Your song in a foreign land (Psa. 137:4-6).

   • Abba, we thank You that Jonathan Pollard, set free by President Trump from his extreme conditions of parole, has finally made aliyah this past week (Psa. 146:7).

Salvation: We believe that God answered out prayers and many Jews were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb over the past Chanukah and Christmas seasons – seasons of light (Psa. 36:9). Please pray for their growth in this very strange time of not being able to attend congregations as freely because of Covid-19.

Water: Let's continue to ask God to open the heavens and pour out on His land all the water that He knows is needed for the near future – especially as more Jews return home and as the tourism industry restarts in the near future.

Shabbat shalom, and fresh blessings from God who reigns from Zion – both now and forever!

For the IFI team