Prayer Guide

Opening Scripture

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Focus Prayer Themes

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for joining us each month in prayer. It has been such a blessing to see the nations coming together to pray for Israel and for the work of the ICEJ. We deeply appreciate your prayers — they are making a big difference.

Preparations for a major event

This month, we especially ask you to undergird in prayer the preparations for our annual celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, from 6 to 13 October. We are blessed to see that a righteous remnant from many nations have decided to come up to Jerusalem to worship God and to stand in comfort with Israel and the Jewish people. Many countries have responded positively to this year’s Feast theme, “Ten from Every Nation” (Zechariah 8:23), and are bringing groups to join us. Please pray that God will continue to stir the hearts of Christians around the world to come up to Jerusalem.

This year’s Feast of Tabernacles will be very special. We are honoured that the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, will be addressing the Feast gathering.

Urgent national/regional concerns

Meanwhile, Israel still urgently needs our daily prayers. Once again, negotiations have failed to free the remaining hostages and Israel is still determined to defeat Hamas and end its rule in Gaza. As I write, IDF operations in Gaza City are intensifying. Meanwhile, the international community is putting more pressure on Israel, with some nations threatening to recognise a Palestinian state. This has fuelled a rise in antisemitism across the Western world to levels not seen since 1939. In Israel, tens of thousands are demonstrating on the streets of Tel Aviv, weary and frustrated that after almost two years of war, the last hostages in Gaza are still not home.

Spiritual encouragement

May God have mercy on Israel and grant this nation victory in His good timing and purposes. Let us declare over Israel this promise: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

In closing, please also pray for those standing against Israel, especially Christians who have blindly accepted the propaganda of the enemy. May they receive a revelation of how precious Israel and the Jewish people are to God. The Lord calls Israel “the apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8), because they are very dear to Him.

Thank you for praying with us!

And we look forward to seeing many of you in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles.

Richest blessings,

David van der Walt
Vice President for Finance
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

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MONTHLY PRAYER POINTS

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL, THE REGION AND FOR ICEJ

(1)Feast of Tabernacles event support

Pray for the ICEJ’s Feast of Tabernacles. Ask the Lord to restrain the enemy and bring calm to the region, so that more Christian pilgrims may come to this year’s Feast. Pray that God’s fullest purposes for this Feast will be accomplished, and that His presence and joy may be released over the Feast participants as the nations come into unity to worship God. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” (Zechariah 8:23)

(2)Spiritual situation in Iran

Pray that the Lord would enlarge the move of His Spirit in Iran, and also give boldness to the Iranian people to throw off the chains of Islam and overturn the oppressive clerical government in power at this time. “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the LORD their God be with them.’” (2 Chronicles 36:23)

(3)Global antisemitism and its impact

Pray against global antisemitism. Ever since the October 7 terror invasion two years ago, the spirit of antisemitism has spread rapidly, manifesting across many nations in various forms of hatred and violence. Ask the Lord to expose and dispel the rampant lies against the Jewish state and people, to soften hearts towards the Jews, and to protect Jewish communities worldwide. “For thus said the Lord of Hosts, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 2:8)

(4)Remaining Israeli hostages and military safety

Pray for the protection of the remaining Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza for nearly 23 months now, and for the IDF soldiers currently on the ground in Gaza. Ask the Lord to grant the armies of Israel complete victory. Pray also concerning the reports in the media about a potential famine in Gaza, that truth would be revealed and that God’s mercy would prevail. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted: to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (Isaiah 61:1)

(5)Staff recruitment for ICEJ

Please pray that the open positions on the ICEJ staff in Jerusalem would be filled by those God has chosen to serve Him here at this time. Pray for skilled, called and anointed believers to join our faithful staff in Jerusalem. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’” (Matthew 9:37f, ESV)

(6)Broadening the ICEJ’s voice among global churches

Pray for an increase and broadening of the ICEJ’s voice to the global Body of Christ. Many churches and pastors still are not aligned with God’s purpose for Israel, perhaps due to the influence of Replacement theology or the current wave of false accusations against Israel worldwide. “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison…” (Colossians 4:2–3, ESV)