1. Praise:

    In Shabbat's Torah reading we have another affirmation that even before the New Testament, God was a God of love: YHWH your God would not listen to Balaam; but YHWH your God turned the curse into a blessing…because YHWH your God loved you. (Deut. 23:5)

    • Thank You for being a God of love – both to Israel and to us (John 3:16).

    • We are grateful for Your description of biblical love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and we humbly confess that the only One who ever walked like that is our Lord Yeshua.

    • We bless You the revelation of Your love to us through Messiah Yeshua (Rom. 8:39; 1 Tim. 1:14).

    • We also confess that we love You because You first loved us (1 John 4:19).

    • We bless You Abba that Your love is eternal, which means no end and no beginning (Jer. 31:3)!

    • We praise You for Your covenant-love which is better than even life itself (Psa. 63:3; 136:1).

    • What a joy to have our eyes opened to see that creation declares Your glory (Psa. 19:1).

  2. Government:

    Israel's national elections will be held on November 1st. A recent poll found that about 25% of Israelis are undecided as to whom to vote for. We prayed for God to direct them.

    • Lord, guide the minds of these undecided Israelis to vote in line with Your will (Prov. 16:1; 19:21).

    • We ask You to change Israelis minds which are already decided – but who will not vote in line with Your choice for Israel at this time (Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23).

    • Continue to hear our requests to clean out the dross from Israel's political leadership, and use the current disunity within many of the parties to do just that (Isa. 1:25-26).

    • Until Israel's King reappears, give to Israel a government that will, by dealing in righteousness and justice, enable Israel's days in the land to be a blessing (Deut. 25:15).

    • Bring all political alliances and any promises that bind them together into the light (Job 28:11b).

    • Burden the political parties to share their policies so that Israelis know what they are voting for.

    • Let Israeli politicians heed Your command from the Torah reading that they must keep what they vow [promise] or that it is better to not vow [promise] at all (Deut. 23:21-23).

    • Promote all politicians who stand against a Palestinian State on Your land (Psa. 75:6-7; Dan. 2:21).

    • Remove all politicians who want to see a "Palestine" established – including current Prime Minister Yair Lapid and current Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Dan. 2:21).

    • Use Your upcoming fall feasts to touch hearts of many politicians and Israeli voters (1 Kin. 18:37).

    • Give Israel a government that will make aliyah and security top priorities (Jer. 32:41; Rom. 13:1-4); that will look after the welfare of its people (Pro. 14:31); that will make and keep a realistic budget (1 Cor. 4:2); and that will not be manipulated by smaller self-centered parties (1 Sam. 15:23).

    • Raise up a person of vision to lead Your nation today (Prov. 29:18).

    • Place a burden to pray about the elections upon the hearts of each Israeli congregation and believer, and may they start interceding now (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

  3. IDF:

    Israel has been fighting a war for survival, openly and covertly, since before its modern creation in 1948. We thank God for the IDF, the fulfillment of His promise of an exceedingly great army which He usually uses to defend His nation (Ezek. 37:10).

    • We have prayed about the next IDF Chief of Staff, who will take Aviv Kochavi's place and we trust that Hertzi Halevi, Kochavi's deputy and the one chosen by Gantz, is Your answer (1 John 5:14-15).

    • If not, do not let him pass the process of government approval that still needs to happen (Psa. 27:5).

    • Bless Kochavi and Halevi with a smooth transition of authority and a common vision (1 Kin. 2:1-3).

    • Surround Halevi, and all other IDF leaders, with wise and godly advisors (Prov. 19:18; 24:6)

    • Shield every IDF soldier and reservist from apathy, weariness and doubt (Gal. 6:9; Rev. 2:3).

    • Lord, guard over IDF soldiers from a rash of recent road accidents, terrorist shootings and knife attacks that have injured or killed some of them (Deut. 33:29; Psa. 3:3; 121:3-4).

    • Send comfort to all families who have lost loved ones recently who were in the IDF (Isa. 35:3-4).

    • May You watch over all new recruits and place them in units of Your choosing (1 Cor. 12:18).

    • Pair up believers with other believers, and provide strong congregational support (Luke 10:1).

    • Lord, in mercy oversee and expedite the development of Israel's "Iron Beam" laser system, its cyber-protection dome and all other advancements in weapons technology (Prov. 8:12).

  4. Internal security:

    Gun attacks by Palestinian terrorists are increasing throughout the land. Many Arabs are already talking about this being a third intifada, i.e., an "uprising".

    • We praise You for the effectiveness of the IDF's Break the Wave offense against terrorists and their weapons caches (1 Kin. 20:13-14; Psa. 44:4-5).

    • Despite America's hypocritical tears over the number of terrorist deaths since the beginning of 2022, let the IDF continue to seek out Israel's enemies and either capture or eliminate them (Eccl. 8:11).

    • Wake up American believers to see that America's criticism of how Israel defends itself against its enemies is extremely dangerous – to America (Gen. 27:29; Jer. 30:20).

    • Thank You that all of Israel's current left-of-center leaders just told America that they have no right to demand any changes from the IDF's rules of engagement as it fights against its enemies.

    • Impart godly discernment to the IDF soldiers who are often required to act with wisdom in various tricky and unclear situations that most young people of their age never face (Eccl. 8:5; Heb. 5:14).

    • Provide all the intelligence which the IDF needs to act and defend Israel (Jer. 11:18; 23:24).

    • Show the IDF if it should use attack helicopters and drones as an effective way to put a halt to this potential gun-intifada (Job 19:25; Psa. 7:11-12; 37:15).

    • All Palestinians who have been raised on Jew-hatred are like the Amalekites, and as per the Torah portion, we ask You to help Israel cleanse the land of them (Deut. 25:17-19; Psa. 10:16).

    • Let Israel courageously obey Your words from the prophetic portion and extend its sovereignty over all of the land captured in the 1967 Six Day War (Isa. 54:2-3).

    • For Your glory, let the fear of Israel fall on every Palestinian terrorist (Deut. 2:25; 11:25; 28:10).

    • Encourage more Palestinians to rise up against the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria, and Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza – throwing these terrorist groups into complete chaos (Psa. 35:26).

    • Anoint all born-again Palestinians in prayer and in sharing of the gospel (Rom. 12:12; 1 Pet. 3:15).

    • Whatever it takes, Lord God of Israel, we ask You to stop the UN from recognizing "Palestine" as a nation-state during its annual General Assembly meeting next week (Psa. 33:10-11; Isa. 40:15-17).

  5. External security:

    Iran's bargaining ploy is working as Western nations are being dragged along by its continuous "minor" demands – yet all the while Iran's nuclear program is moving closer and closer to being able to develop nuclear weapons whenever they want.

    • Overturn this demonic travesty of America and other Western nations even negotiating with a nation which has openly declared that its goal is to destroy "the Jewish entity" (Psa. 2:1-5; Isa. 34:1-2, 8).

    • May the report of Russia telling Iran to get out of Syria because of the intensity of recent Israeli air strikes be true. If not, please Lord – make it true as soon as possible (Psa. 129:5).

    • Lord of hosts, break the relationship that Russia and China have with Iran (Psa. 35:1-8; 55:9).

    • Send Your "four lepers" to terrify and chase all Iranian personnel out from Syria (2 Kin. 7:3-9).

    • Dry up Iran's finances so that all of their threats against Israel become just wind (Num. 24:9b).

    • We know Iran is not fooling You with its Middle Eastern style of bargaining and so we ask You to fulfill Jeremiah 49:38b suddenly, and as soon as possible – and let them know it is You who did this.

    • Guide the Iranian Body's prayers so that they build Your throne in Iran (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 6:10).

    • Teach Israel to look to You and not to the nations as it makes its plans against Iran (Psa. 34:5; Prov. 21:31; Isa. 31:1; 45:22).

    • Anoint with wisdom and insight all who are involved in the IDF's Iran Command (Isa. 10:27).

    • Download to the IDF out-of-the-box plans that will destroy Iran's military might, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp, so that even if their nuclear facilities remained untouched, Iran will not have anyone left willing to attack Israel (Josh. 5:13-6:5).

    • Lord, in mercy remove Hizbullah's death-grip over Lebanon (Psa. 58:2-7; 140:1-3).

  6. Aliyah:

    Isaiah 54:7-8 in the prophetic portion indicates that to God the centuries' long exile of Israel among the gentiles was only a "small moment"! For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says YHWH your Redeemer. (Isa. 54:7-8)

    • Lord, we bless and thank You for being able to bear witness to Your great mercies in regathering Israel – especially after the Holocaust (Psa. 102:13; vs. 1-11 describe the Holocaust in detail).

    • Your people have returned from over 100 different nations – and it is all for Your glory (Isa. 43:5-7).

    • Draw Your people back to Your land in Your covenant-faithfulness (Jer. 31:3; Hos. 11:4).

    • Increase the pressure on those Jews who refuse to heed Your call to return home (Jer. 16:16).

    • Let them see the "suddenness" of changes and disasters – plagues, heatwaves droughts, earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, and today even open war – as a sign that now is the time to hear Your voice and return to Zion (Psa. 85:7b-11; Heb. 3:15-19).

    • With many Jews in the EU needing to hide their outward identity because of anti-Semitic attacks, remind them that they are free to be totally Jewish in the Jewish homeland (Psa. 137:4).

    • Over the holydays, infect Israelis living among the gentiles with an insatiable homesickness, and then reveal to them that there is a vaccine which will cure this – to return home (Jer. 50:4-5).

    • Open wide the gates of nations that are holding back Your people from coming home (Ex. 5:1; 8:1).

    • May Israel's next government see that the aliyah and the absorption of the new immigrants [olim] as a top priority from You (Jer. 32:41-44).

    • Then aid them to have everything ready to receive a huge influx of Jews coming home (Isa. 60:8-9).

    • By grace, help the new olim set their goal on developing deep roots in every area of Israel and forbid them from looking back with longings to their own personal "Egypt" (Num. 11:5; Hos. 10:2).

  7. Salvation:

    We are in the Hebrew month Ellul, a month of repentance on the Jewish calendar, which precedes the fall feasts of the Lord – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (Lev. 23:4, 23-32).

    • Fear not: for you shall not be ashamed, nor be confounded…For your Creator is your husband; YHWH of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, He shall be called the God of the whole earth.Isa. 54:4a, 5

    • As Your people read in the prophetic portion Isaiah 54:10, let them ask You about that covenant of My peace that you promised would come to them because of Your mercy (John 14:27; 16:33).

    • Lord, take off the "Egyptian" garb and reveal Your true self to Your Jewish family (Gen. 45:1-4).

    • Abba, in mercy remove the veil and reveal Your Son to many more Jews today (Rom. 11:25-29)?

    • As observant Jews pray Psalm 27 daily this month, Messiah Yeshua, show them that You are indeed their Light and their Salvation (Psa. 27:1; Luke 2:30-32; John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46; Acts 4:12).

    • Lord, fulfill Your promise that after You bring Your people back to Israel, then You will pour out Your Spirit on them (Isa. 32:15-18; Ezek. 39:27-29).

    • Give secret Jewish believers the courage to declare You openly (Mark 8:38; Rom. 1:16).

    • Give Your people a deep desire to read the rest of the Tanach and not just the Torah, the first five books, and then while they read it remove the scales from their eyes (Jer. 15:16; 33:3).

  8. Body of Messiah:

    We are amazed at how many believers seem so blind to what God is doing in and through Israel in these days. It is shocking to come face-to-face with those who trust in Yeshua yet are so ignorant – even dismissive – of the only Scriptures Yeshua ever read and trusted in.

    • Lord, the Psalmist wrote that Your Word is settled forever in heaven (Psa. 119:89). May many more believers see that when he wrote this – there was no New Testament [NT]!

    • You said through Isaiah that Your Word endures forever (Isa. 40:8). Again, this was not referring to the NT when it was written – although, thank You Lord – it definitely applies to the NT as well today.

    • Let more elders in Your Body preach on Tanach ­prophecies – without taking verses out of context or spiritualizing away Israel and Your promises to it (Num. 23:19; Acts 20:27).

    • Lord Yeshua, as part of building Your Body please replace all those who teach and preach that the Church has now replaced Israel (Acts 20:28-31).

    • Give to all of us who call on Your name, Lord Yeshua, a deeper hunger for Your Word (Jer. 15:16).

    • Impart to Your Body a love for the truth and a willingness to speak the truth regardless of the results (Gal. 4:16; 2 Thess. 2:10-13; 3 John 1:4).

    • Wake up Your Church that the One whom they worship was, and still is, a Jew, the King of Israel – and is now declared before all of heaven's hosts as the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Matt. 2:2; 27:37; John 1:49; 12:13-15; 20:28; Rev. 5:5; 22:16)!

  9. Water:

    Israel's water technology breakthroughs are truly amazing, yet it is when the rain falls from heaven that most Israelis see God's hand of mercy.

    • Thank You for Israeli technological breakthroughs but please open the heavens as well (Job 5:9-10).

    • We ask for this regardless of Israel's righteousness because Messiah Yeshua said You, Abba Father, pour out the rain on the just and the unjust – just because of Your love (Matt. 5:45b).

  10. IFI:

    Thank you for also praying for this ministry's various needs.

Shabbat shalom, and grace and blessing from Zion

For the IFI team

1 Cor. 1:9