We can now take donations via PayPal as well as WorldPay. Thank you for your continued financial support for the ministry.

1. Praise:

   We read in Shabbat's prophetic portion that when all Israel is saved – righteous in Messiah Yeshua (1 Cor. 1:30) – their possession of the land brings God glory (Isa. 60:21).

   • Thank You Lord God that in our individual salvation, as well as in Israel's national salvation, it is You who receive all of the glory (Psa. 106:47; Phil. 2:9-11)!

   • To think You can use us weak and foolish vessels for Your glory humbles us and causes praise and thanksgiving to spring forth from our mouths (Zeph. 3:19; 1 Cor. 1:26-29; 2 Cor. 12:9).

   • We praise You for constantly encouraging us with the truth we find in Your Word (John 17:17).

   • Lord Yeshua, we rejoice to know that You are seated above all in heaven (Psa. 110:1; Isa. 40:22), and are thrilled that we are seated with You at the Father's right hand (Eph. 2:6-7).

   • Hallelujah! Our God reigns right now (Psa. 103:19; Isa. 52:7b; Acts 10:36b).

   • Thank You for being a God who desires to hear our prayers (Psa. 50:15; Jer. 33:3).

2. Government & society:

   The ebbs and flows of the multi-front war Israel is fighting, plus the emotional pressure because of the hostages, combined with the world's absurd demand on Israel to let Hamas survive by agreeing to a permanent ceasefire makes it hard to know how to pray for Israelis and for their leaders from week to week. This forces us to seek Him to lead us – and that is exactly what He is aiming (Psa. 10:17).

   • Abba Father, guide us as we persist in prayer for Your nation (Psa. 10:17; Isa. 30:30a; Rom. 8:26).

   • Lord, let more of Israel's leaders see their need to ask You for wisdom and guidance, to read Your Word regularly, and to trust in You more each day (Psa. 37:3; 105:4; 119:98-100, 148; Jer. 15:16).

   • God of Israel, continue to elevate those children of Zion throughout Israel's society – especially in the political and military arenas (Deut. 10:12; 2 Sam. 23:1-4; Zech. 9:13).

   • Abba, we bless You for PM Bibi Netanyahu who seems to be thinking and acting more like a son of Zion daily as the challenges of leading Israel increase daily as well (Psa. 68:27-28).

   • Lord, download to him in abundance that wisdom and knowledge we read about in Daniel 2:21b.

   • Abba, surround him with wise and godly advisors and open his ears to their advice (Prov. 11:14).

   • Guard him from internal groups trying to manipulate him, whether it is some of the hostage families, politicians, or military officers who still plan as if it is October 6th (Psa. 35:1; 43:1; Prov. 5:21-22).

   • Lord, let Gideon Sa'ar join the current government only if it is 100% Your will (Psa. 75:6-7).

   • Thank You for the report that Defense Minister Gallant is trying to repair his contentious relations with Netanyahu and even has admitted to making mistakes in the past (Jer. 26:12-13; Rom. 2:4).

   • Lord, gift Jews living in Israel – and in the nations – with a biblically-based worldview and remove all politically-correct, man-centered thinking from them (Psa. 119:34, 169; Prov. 3:5; Dan. 12:10).

   • Messiah, cast out all spirits of rebellion and chaos from Israeli society (Ezek. 20:38a; 34:20-22).

   • God of Israel, set Your people free from Hamas' very successful and demonic emotional and mental blackmail of the Israeli hostages that they still hold captive (Num. 23:23; Psa. 140:7).

   • Messiah Yeshua, comfort all Israelis who need it at this time (Isa. 61:1-3), and heal all ex-hostages who are now back home of their intense mental and emotional trauma (Psa. 30:2-3; 147:3).

   • Precious Lord, watch over Deuteronomy 28:11 in the Torah portion miraculously at this time of war and sustain Israel's economic health in all areas (Psa. 132:13-15).

3. Foreign relations:

   Israel has always been hated because the world hates Israel's God (Psa. 83:1-4). Today, part of this hatred is because God's Word openly declares right from wrong, and calls sin – sin! Also, it claims to reveal ultimate truth, which is so offensive to so many. Isaiah 60:2a in the prophetic portion describes today's world with frightening accuracy: For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people…

   • Lord, as per Isaiah 60:1-2 – let Your light and glory shine in Israel's foreign relationships today.

   • God Almighty, use Israel's pariah status in the world to bring Numbers 23:9b to pass.

   • Lord, defend Israel and condemn those nations who constantly apply a higher standard of behavior for Jews as opposed to gentiles, especially gentiles/Arabs in the Middle East (Psa. 35:1-3; 80:2).

   • Lord, since You raise up and bring down world leaders (Prov. 8:15; Dan. 2:21a), use the current leaders to fulfill You plans (Psa. 33:11) – and give us wisdom as we pray about them (Eccl. 8:5).

   • Oversee Israel's relations with America regardless of who the next US president will be, and use the election results to wean Israel off from relying on the US and to rely on You (Psa. 118:8-9; Isa. 31:1).

   • God, rebuke the unbiblical UN General Assembly resolution which passed overwhelming this week, which aims to make Judea and Samaria Judenrein (free of Jews), as well as encouraging the nations to embargo Israel from receiving arms to defend itself (Gen. 27:29; Num. 23:7-8; 24:9b; Isa. 54:17).

   • Equip Danny Danon, Israel's UN Ambassador, with five smooth stones (1 Sam. 17:40-47).

   • You God are jealous over Your land (Ezek. 36:5-7), so guide Israel's response to the PA's request of the UN to demand all Jews leave Judea and Samaria within a year (Isa. 40:14-17).

   • As this resolution was presented by the Palestinian Authority, breaking the Oslo Accords agreement, let Israel respond with strength and courage and take back all of its land (Obad. 1:17-20).

   • Help Israel advance relations with nations that need it and benefit from it, so that Your promise in the Torah portion to make Israel the head of all nations will be advanced (Deut. 28:13; cp. 26:19).

   • Teach Israel's representatives in the world, whether professionals or laypeople, how to use Your Word, which never returns empty, whenever they communicate (Isa. 40:8; 55:11: Gal. 4:16).

   • King Messiah, let Your Body take this warning from the prophetic portion way more seriously than it seems that it is doing today: For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted. (Isa. 60:12)

4. External security:

   Israel's threats to deal with Hizbullah in Lebanon are beginning coming to pass. Israel has killed many of its leaders, attacked its weapons and storage facilities, and this week caused various Hizbullah "military communication devices" to explode, killing many terrorists and incapacitate many 1,000s. Israel has not taken responsibility for this attack against its enemy, yet neither has it denied it. Hizbullah is panicked, in chaos and likely fearful of what else Israel might have in store, so is it time for Israel to invade Lebanon (Hizbullah is in the government), and destroy Hizbullah's ability to keep 60,000+ Israelis homeless and threaten the rest of the nation as well?

   • God, set Israel free from all unbiblical influences hindering it from warring against its enemies in a biblical fashion – like the US elections or any hostage/ceasefire deals (Psa. 18:36-40; 124:6-8).

   • Abba, we thank You for the results of operation that blew up Hizbullah's terrorists' pagers and other devices (Jer. 48:41; 51:41), and ask You to use this to shame many of the wounded terrorists so that they actually seek You – Israel's God (Psa. 83:16-18).

   • Lord, use this successful attack to create endless paranoia in the hearts and minds of Israel's enemies, panicking them into making major geo-political and military mistakes (Psa. 73:19; Isa. 19:17).

   • Lord God of hosts, continue to wield Israel as Your weapon of war to cut off the threat emanating from its north at this time (Isa. 42:13; Jer. 51:20-24; Joel 2:17-22; Zech. 11:1).

   • God, show Israel what it has to do so that its 60,000 plus civilians who cannot live in their homes in the north, can return as soon as possible in confidence that they will be protected (Jer. 23:3; 32:37).

   • Prevent the US from shoving a diplomatic solution to the threat of Hizbullah down Israel's throat as that was tried [UNSC Resolution 1701] and has proven to be disastrous (Job 12:17; Psa. 74::22).

   • Supernaturally dry up Hizbullah's and Iran's finances (Job 20:28; Zech. 5:3-4).

   • Lord, fulfill Deuteronomy 28:7 in the Torah reading against Israel's very dangerous enemies.

   • Confound all haters of Zion (Psa. 129:5): terrorist leaders, Iran's leaders, the Houthis in Yemen, terrorists in Syria and Iraq, and those in the West who despise Your nation (Psa. 70:2; Jer. 17:18).

   • Lord God, please watch over Your Word and break Elam's [ancient Iran's] bow (Jer. 49:35), as well as remove its wicked leaders from terrorizing the Iranians and so many others (Jer. 49:38b).

   • Let Iran's leaders reap the curses that they continually sow against Israel (Num. 24:9b; Gal. 6:7).

   • We praise You for the Body in Iran, and ask You to protect them, to help them to grow numerically and spiritually and let them influence the rest of Iranian society for You (Jer. 49:38a; Matt. 16:18b).

5. "Operation Swords of Iron:"

   It was an error to declare Israel's war goals as both the defeat of Hamas and the rescue of the hostages. We understand why Israel's leaders did this, yet now we see that it was impossible to accomplish both together. While the hostages, a riveting and emotional issue has basically taken center stage, it is not as crucial a goal for Israel's overall security than is the defeat of Hamas. Also, the hostage issue continues to be used by inside and outside forces to bring down Netanyahu and his government.

   • Lord, keep Netanyahu steadfast on insisting that what he has declared as his redlines remain Israel's redlines – despite the pressure against him from America in particular (Psa. 118:6; Jer. 1:8).

   • God, quickly replace all sons of Greece in the IDF's leadership with sons of Zion (Ezek. 34:10).

   • With Israel's war effort turning more towards Hizbullah in the north, provide guidance concerning the deployment of Israel's forces – especially those that need to remain in Gaza (Prov. 21:30-31).

   • Let Israel pursue the war in Gaza until it gains a total victory – for Your name's sake (Isa. 41:15-16).

   • Abba, we thank You that most of the families of fallen soldiers want to see Israel press on with the war and gain a complete victory over Hamas (Deut. 33:26-29; Psa. 18:37-40; Amos 1:6-7).

   • Let their position, and the similar demands from a significant number of the families of the hostages, get much more exposure in Israel's mainstream media (Prov. 11:10-11; 15:30).

   • Lord, with Hamas threatening to murder Israeli hostages if the IDF gets close to freeing them, we pray for You to miraculously set these captives free (Gen. 18:14; Psa. 124:6-8; Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Or Lord God, guide the IDF to where all the remaining hostages are, living or dead (Isa. 49:24-26).

   • Reveal all undiscovered tunnels in Gaza, including on the Egyptian-Gaza border (Obad. 1:6).

   • Support Bibi's demand for the IDF to maintain overall security control in Gaza and the Philadelphi Corridor on Gaza's border with Egypt, for the foreseeable future (Psa. 44:4-6; Mal. 1:5).

   • Better yet, Abba, for Your holy name's sake, direct Israel to repossess Gaza after the war as it is part of the inheritance of Judah (Josh. 15:1, 47; Judg. 1:18; Prov. 16:9).

6. Internal security:

   Israel is trying to pre-empt another Oct. 7th type attack – this time coming from Palestinian terrorist groups in Judea and Samaria. Its security forces have eliminated many terrorists and destroyed weapons manufacturing and storage sites, all in Palestinian Authority [PA] areas. Yet this arena is not like Gaza as Jews live throughout Israel's biblical heartland.

   • Abba Father, in agreement with the prayer in the Torah portion, we also pray, Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven; bless Your people Israel, and the land which You have given [them], as You swore to [their] fathers, a land that flows with milk and honey. (Deut. 26:15)

   • Lord, You are bringing Israel back from exile, so we ask You to also protect them (Jer. 31:10).

   • As the Torah portions over the next few months are from Deuteronomy, show Your people that possessing their land is 100% Your will for Israel today (Num. 33:51-53; Deut. 8:1; 9:5; 19:8).

   • With Western nations holding conferences in order to divide Your land by creating a Palestinian State, Lord God deal with them in line with Your warning in Joel 3:1-2.

   • Let Israel spread its sovereignty over much more of its land (Judg. 2:1-5; Psa. 105:5-11; Isa. 54:2-3).

   • Fulfill Deuteronomy 6:10-11, by using the illegal buildings the EU built for the Palestinians in Area C to become homes for the Jews as they resettle Your land (Josh. 24:13).

   • Lord of hosts, fight alongside of Israel's security forces against all terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria, giving them both protection and the victory (Num. 10:9; Deut. 3:222; Chr. 13:14-15).

   • Increase the gathering of accurate and timely intelligence in these areas (Job 28:11b; Luke 12:2).

   • Let Palestinian terrorists in Judea and Samaria become fearful and very paranoid of falling into the same type of trap as what Israel just did to Hizbullah (2 Chr. 20:29).

   • God, bring to nothing all of Iran's attempts to ignite terrorism inside Israel (Psa. 59:12-13; Isa. 60:18).

   • Lord God, guard over all Israelis civilians in Judea, Samaria and in the Jordan Valley (Psa. 121:4).

   • Anoint the security forces to do their job in protecting the residents so that the need for vigilante actions are removed (Eccl. 8:11).

7. Aliyah:

   While interest among Western Jews to return to Israel has increased, so far there has unfortunately been a decrease in Jews making aliyah. Yet as this issue brings Him glory, we will persist in asking for multitudes to return very soon (Isa. 43:5-7; Ezek. 36:22-24; plus other verses).

   • Abba Father, turn the increase of interest in aliyah into an actual increase in aliyah (Jer. 50:4-8).

   • Set all Jews free who are emotionally and mentally trapped in exile (Psa. 107:14-16; 137:4-6).

   • Lord God, in part do this by giving them dreams, or even nightmares, to shock them awake that it is past time for them and their families to return home (Joel 2:28b; Amos 3:8; Zech. 10:8-10).

   • Abba, open the eyes of the Jewish people to the reality of history – that gentile nations cannot, or even at times will not, protect the Jews living among them (Deut. 28:37, 64-67).

   • Almighty God, let the very violent pro-Palestinian demonstrations show Your people that "law and order" is being destroyed in most post-Christian Western nations (Psa. 11:5; Isa. 59:7-11, 14-15).

   • King of Israel, turn Israel's diplomatic outreach to the Jews in exile from trying to help them remain there to encouraging them to come home (Psa. 14:7; 147:2; Amos 9:14-15).

   • Lord God, abundantly bless every Israeli plan to absorb millions of new immigrants (Ezek. 36:8-12).

   • Bring home a huge flood of immigrants at the same time, and use it to wash away those bureaucratic barriers in Israel which make aliyah more difficult than it needs to be (Psa. 66:6; 98:8).

   • Lord Yeshua. show Your Body to be much more involved with aliyah, as for example Isaiah 60:5-11 in the prophetic portion specifically says that gentile believers will help financially and by other means to co-labor with You in the restoration of Israel today (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 6:1).

8. Salvation:

   Yeshua told us that salvation's ultimate aim is for God to be glorified (John 13:31-32; 14:13; 17:1-5; Phil. 2:9-11)! Anything less than this only adds to the spirit of humanism which has already infected too much of His Body.

   • Lord Yeshua, quicken believers to pray for all Israel to be saved – for Your holy name's sake (Isa. 45:25; 46:13; Ezek. 36:23-32; Luke 2:32; Rom. 10:1).

   • Abba, reverse what You said in the Torah portion and give Your people today a heart to perceive, eyes to see, and ears to hear what the Tanach states about Messiah (Deut. 29:4; Rom. 11:25-26).

   • Use Israel's increased isolation to turn many Israelis to Yourself (Ex. 33:16; Deut. 33:28-29).

   • [In Ellul, the current Hebrew month, Jews pray prayers of repentance in preparation for the high holydays.] Please give many Jews a "holy dissatisfaction" as they consider their personal relationship with You as compared to that which many Jews had in biblical times (Psa. 42:2; Mark 9:24).

   • Do not allow any verses from Your Word in those prayers to return void (Isa. 55:11).

   • Lord Yeshua, during Ellul lead many secret Jewish believers to confess You openly (Matt. 10:32).

   • May Jews who returned to the land through the assistance of gentile believers be very provoked to jealousy by their love and concern and then draw them unto You to be saved (Rom. 11:11).

   • [Please seek God about any specific group or groups of Jews that He wants you to pray for today.]

9. Body of Messiah:

   As Jews return to their land, believers need to return to God's Word. At this time in history, Yeshua's followers need to be reading and studying all of the God-breathed scriptures (2 Tim. 3:16-17) which shed light on what He is doing at this hour (for ex. Jer. 32:41).

   • Messiah Yeshua, as You did on the way to Emmaus, in love rebuke all of Your followers who refuse to trust in all that was written by Moses and the prophets (Luke 24:25-27).

   • Heal Your Body of its blindness that prevents them from seeing that the word "scripture" in the New Testament historically only refers to the Tanach (Matt. 22:29; Luke 4:21; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Gal. 3:8).

   • Raise up many sons and daughters of Zion as teachers in Your Body (Acts 20:26-27; 2 Cor. 2:17).

   • Lord of all, rid Your Body from all anti-Semitic and anti-Zionistic spirits (Num. 24:9b).

   • Reveal to the Body that You are still a Man of War today (Ex. 15:3; Isa. 42:13; Rev. 19:11-16).

   • King Yeshua, allow the remnant who already see Your plans for Israel in these days to be like that grain of mustard and impact all others in their fellowships (Matt. 13:31-32).

10. IFI:

    Thank you for praying for us that we can hear from God what He wants us to pray for His nation and His people (Eph. 6:18).

Shabbat shalom and blessings from Israel

Chuck Cohen, for the IFI team

1 Pet. 5:10-11