While Chuck and Karen are continuing to navigate the move to their new home, Judy Waddell, IFI administrator, is sending out the prayer alert for IFI.

  1. Praise:

    Both the Torah portion (Lev. 9:1-11:47) and the prophetic portion (2 Sam. 6:1-7:17) give strong reminders that we are called to be holy, because He is holy.

    • Lord Yeshua, as our High Priest, we thank You that You have obtained eternal salvation through the offering of Your own blood (Hebrew 9:11-12).

    • In our own strength, we cannot meet Your standards, but You have promised to perfect that which concerns us (Ps. 138:8).

    • Thank you that in Romans 6:13-14, You remind us that sin shall not have dominion over us when we present ourselves to You as instruments for Your use.

    • You are a jealous God Who pursues us with love (Ex 34:14). May we not take Your holiness lightly

    • We worship You, the Holy One of Israel (Is.10:20; 12:6; 17:7; 29:19; 29:23; 41:14-16; 43:3; 43:15; 47:4; 54:5)

  2. Government and society:

    We continue, in obedience to God’s command to pray for those in authority (1 Tim.2:1-4)

    • Thank You for Bibi Netanyahu’s reiteration of his red lines this week, in demanding an end to Hamas control over Gaza and the release of all hostages. Keep him aligned with Your purposes for Israel (Prov. 21:1; Zech.4:6-7).

    • Use the ongoing court case to help Bibi to learn to delegate (1 Chron. 27:25-34), to accept counsel (Ex. 18:17-23), and to trust in You (Ps.7:1).

    • Grant unity of purpose to the counsellors within the coalition as they support and advise Bibi (Prov.11:14; 20:5; Is. 9:6).

    • Continue the work that You have begun in removing the sons of Greece and promoting the sons of Zion in positions of leadership politically and in the IDF (Zech.9:13).

    • May the efforts of those who wish to cause division in Israel be like the counsel of Ahithophel (2 Sam. 17:14, Ps. 129:4; Prov. 14:34).

    • Deal with the deception among some Israelis, that compromise with Hamas will bring peace (Zech. 3:2).

    • Refresh and renew the spirit of Israelis and soldiers in the IDF who have become weary in this prolonged war (Isaiah 40:29-31; 41:10).

    • Pour out Your grace, mercy and peace on the hostage families, and enable them to turn their anger toward Hamas (2 Cor.1:3-4).

  3. “Operation Strength and Sword”:

    Israel continues to fight in Gaza. It is taking over more territory, yet this seems to be more of a tactic than a long-term strategy which would bring Israel more in-line with God's declared will for Gaza (Zeph. 3:4a; Zech. 9:5).

    • We declare that You are the Keeper of Israel (Ps. 121) and we ask You to arise and scatter Your enemies (Ps. 68:1-2)

    • We recognize You as the Commander of the Army of the Lord (Josh.5:13-15). Give the IDF Your strategy and end point for this war, if necessary as You did with Joshua, step by step (Josh. 6:3-5;8:2;10:8;11:6).

    • Give the IDF new and out of the box strategies (1 Ki.20:13-30; Ps.94:12-14)

    • Thank You for answered prayers for new inventions, used to enable soldiers to enter enemy territory more safely (Prov. 8:12).

    • May Israel, the IDF and civilians, not become weary, but remember the promise of the Lord to Joshua after many years of war (Josh.23:5) and respond as the children of Israel did then (Josh. 24:17-18).

    • In mercy, release the hostages, either through the IDF or by divine intervention (Is.49:24-25).

  4. Foreign Relations:

    Israel's first Prime Minister, Ben-Gurion, is quoted as saying, "It doesn't matter what the Gentiles say; it matters what the Jews do!" That is as true today in Israel's foreign relations as it was back in the 1950s. Israel needs to stay on the course set out for it by God and not be swayed by big, powerful nations and their leaders – whether they are enemies or allies.

    • Use Trump and the US-Iran negotiations as instruments in Your hands for the glory of Your kingdom (1Chron. 28:14).

    • Preserve Israel from any confusion that may result from conflicting reports concerning US negotiations with Iran and with Saudi Arabia (1 Cor. 14:33) Grant clarity of understanding of what is really happening and what Israel must be doing.

    • Reveal anything that is being hidden in darkness (Dan.2:22).

    • Protect Israel from any efforts by the nations to limit Israel’s ability to defend herself (Deut. 28:13)

    • Thank You for Gidon Saar, Israel’s Foreign Minister, rebuking the nations so clearly this week (Ps. 82:5-7). May his words not come back to him void (Is. 55:11).

    • Thank You for the decision of the ICC to review the case against Israel. May truth and justice prevail (Ps.89:14).

  5. Internal Security:

    We are burdened to pray for Israel to extend its sovereignty over more of its land in 2025 (Isa. 54:2-3; Jer. 32:41-44). By doing this, there would be an increase of security for all of its citizens as God’s will is definitely the best path forward for nations, as well as for us.

    • Lord of Hosts, extend Your wings of protection over the IDF in these areas (Psa. 17:8; 91:4; 141:9-10).

    • Give the IDF physical and psychological superiority (Isaiah 30:17).

    • Refresh and renew the strength of the IDF reservists who serve to protect within Israel and Judea and Samaria (Ps. 110:2-3).

    • Lord God, impart to more Israelis a vision and a burden to possess all of Your land (Prov. 29:18).

    • Messiah Yeshua, use US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee to share with Israel's leaders a Biblical understanding of Your vision for Your land (Judg. 2:1-5; Psa. 126:1-3).

    • We spread before You the UN statement last year that Judea and Samaria must be “Juden-rein”, free of all Jews by the middle of this year and ask You to arise and respond (2 Ki. 19:14-19).

  6. External Security:

    Middle East [ME]: Israel is surrounded by enemies: Turkey, Iran, the Houthis in Yemen, Al-Qaeda and ISIS in Syria, various Palestinian terrorist groups in Jordan, and the increasing threat posed by Egypt. Yet this is God’s land upon which He chose to plant His people.

    • Again Lord, we pray for Your wisdom and courage to come upon Israel as to what it should do with the threat of an Iranian nuke regardless of what the US-Iran negotiations produce (Prov. 8:14-16; 19:20; 21:30-31).

    • Lord of Hosts, we continue to hit our prayer "arrows" on the ground, asking You to guide the IDF to totally remove Hizbullah from ever again being a threat to Your nation (2 Kin. 13:17-19; Joel 2:20).

    • Expose the treachery of Turkey and Qatar to both the Americans and the Israeli leadership (Ps. 52:1-7; 55:2-10)

    • We declare, with Jehoshaphat, when facing a great army of enemies, that the battle is God’s (2 Chron. 20:15; Ps.149:6-8).

    • In the face of this multitude of enemies, show Israel where to focus and when (Is. 30:21).

  7. Aliyah:

    It is an awesome privilege to be alive to witness the return of the Jews to the land God promised them several hundred times in the Tanach (Jer. 31:10). We are tasked with great responsibility to remind the Lord of His promises and ask Him to fulfill them.

    • Don’t let the bad press about Israel in international and Israeli press deter those whom You have called to make Aliyah (Num. 14:8-9).

    • Give a strategy and determination to those who are being held in nations that do not wish to let them go (Ex: 5:1).

    • As Israel has commemorated Holocaust Memorial Day this week, may the voices of survivors be heard in warning of the dangers of antisemitism in the nations today (Deut. 4:33)

  8. Salvation:

    Surveys are revealing an increase interest in religion by Israelis since Oct. 7th with that trend only increasing. While this likely means a closer observance of Rabbinic Judaism – and not necessarily a closer relationship with the Living God – still we see this as God’s gentle drawing of His people to Himself, and eventually to His Son Yeshua, their Messiah.

    • As David counseled Solomon, may Your people seek You with all of their hearts, because You have promised to be found by those who seek You (1 Chron. 28:9).

    • Wake up Your gentile believers to pray for this with an intensity of intercession that equals Moses and Paul (Ex. 32:32; Rom. 9:3).

    • Equip the body of Messiah in Israel to present Yeshua as their Jewish Messiah and grant wisdom and sensitivity in witness. Provide divine appointments (acts 8:29-38).

    • Pour out Your Spirit as You did in Joel 2:28-29 and in Acts 2:2-3.

    • [Ask God about which specific group of Jews He wants you to pray for this week.]

  9. Body of Messiah:

    Messiah Yeshua will sit on King David’s throne and judge the world from Jerusalem as Israel’s King of Israel. This is why Satan is so furious over Israel’s restoration today. Why do so many in the Body not see this, or perceive what the spiritual battle over Israel is about?

    • Open eyes to what is happening and to understand the day and the hour in which we live (Dan. 10:14).

  10. IFI:

    We value your prayers with and for us as we continue to stand in the gap for Israel.

Judy Waddell for the IFI team