Prayer Guide

Dear Prayer Partners,

The relative quiet that Israel experienced over recent weeks on the Gaza front has suddenly ended. Due to the refusal of Hamas to release more Israeli hostages to extend the ceasefire, Israel decided to resume the fighting in Gaza, both in the air and on the ground. The Houthis in Yemen also renewed their missile attacks on Israel, and even rocket fire from Gaza has returned for the first time in six months. With 59 hostages still in captivity, 24 of them presumed to be alive, many Israelis are upset with the government for seemingly abandoning the hostages. Yet the truth is that Hamas simply does not want to release any more hostages, as they are the only ‘insurance’ for their continued existence and rule in Gaza. Please continue to pray for the release of the remaining Israelis held hostage in Gaza, and for total victory and peace for Israel. May Israel know that God will never forsake them for His Holy name’s sake, as assured in 1 Samuel 12:22.

I believe as we pray this month, we should put emphasis on God acting for His Holy name’s sake. From the powerful prophetic passage in Ezekiel 36:16-38, we read that God has not brought the Jewish people back to their ancestral homeland to be destroyed, humiliated or cast down before the Gentile nations, but He has brought them back because of His Holy name’s sake (v. 22), and that through Israel the surrounding nations will know that God is Lord of all (v. 36).

We are now in the Hebrew month of Nisan, which also means we are close to Pesach and the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and their journey to the Promised Land. Here, we see the same principle, that God acts for His name’s sake. Even when Israel rebelled and God wanted to destroy them for their unbelief (Numbers 14), Moses interceded with the Lord to have mercy on Israel for His name’s sake among the nations (vs. 13-16). In Psalm 106:7-9, it says that even when Israel rebelled at the Red Sea, “He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty power known.”

This is an important principle to remember when we are praying for Israel. It is not just about Israel; in fact, our emphasis should be much more on the glory and power of God, as He acts to preserve and defend His holy name. Indeed, God has made so many promises to Israel that He cannot break, otherwise His name will be profaned among the nations (Ezekiel 36:20-21).

Jesus himself also taught us to pray in this direction. “Father, hallowed be your name.” (Luke 11:2).

The best days are still ahead for Israel, according to Ezekiel 36. This nation will come to a full spiritual restoration and even the Land will become like the Garden of Eden. The current war is mere birth pangs that God will use to steer the Middle East and the world in the right direction for His name’s sake.

Thank you for praying with us!

Many Blessings,

David van der Walt

Vice President for Finance

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

Photo Credit:  Vecteezy.com

MONTHLY PRAYER POINTS
 April 2025

PRAYER FOR ISRAEL

1.  THE SOUTHERN FRONT

Thank the Lord that most of the Israeli hostages have been freed from cruel captivity in Gaza. But 59 hostages remain, including 24 presumed alive and 35 bodies. And while Hamas is seriously weakened, it is still refusing to release any more hostages and trying to reassert control over Gaza. This has prompted Israel to resume the fighting in Gaza. Thus, we need to pray that Israel will quickly prevail in this latest battle and drive Hamas from Gaza. We also must keep praying that every last Israeli hostage will be returned, whether alive or deceased, so their families can reunite and find closure, and the whole nation can begin to heal from the wounds of October 7. Pray that Israeli leaders will make the right decisions over any further ceasefires, and who will rule Gaza going forward. Pray that any Palestinians in Gaza who want to voluntarily leave for another country will be allowed to do so. Pray that the surrounding Arab leaders will join Israel and the US in rejecting any future for Hamas in Gaza. Also pray for strong support for Israel from the Trump administration. And pray that any Palestinian prisoners released so far will not be able to endanger Israel. 

2.  THE NORTHERN FRONT

Thank the Lord that the ceasefire in northern Israel continues to hold. Still, the IDF keeps finding and destroying more Hizbullah weapons, tunnels and outposts in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army also still needs to take full control over all of southern Lebanon and force the Hizbullah terror militia to withdraw above the Litani river. Pray that Hizbullah will not only withdraw but that it will be disarmed. Pray that the Christian and Sunni Arab leaders in Lebanon will be able to sideline Hizbullah in the country’s decision-making process. Pray that the new Lebanese government also will pursue normalization of relations with Israel. Pray that the US, France and Sunni Arab states will work together to disband Hizbullah and free Lebanon from Iran’s destructive influence. Also pray the new regime in Syria will seek peace with Israel.

3.  THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Please pray that Israel and the Trump administration will coalesce around a common agenda to strengthen Israel’s position in the region and achieve more normalization agreements with other Arab and Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Pray that Israel and the US will be able to prevent Iran from ever developing nuclear weapons to threaten Israel. Pray that Iran will not be able to harm Israel or Jews abroad. Pray that the radical Islamic regime in Tehran will be driven from power by its own people.

4.  THE HOME FRONT

Please pray that Israel will be able to secure a resounding victory over its enemies, recover and rebuild quickly, and actively pursue peace with its other Arab neighbours. Pray that Israel will finally resolve its many internal differences over judicial reforms, the drafting of yeshiva students, and other long-standing political divides in the nation. Pray that more Israelis will be drawn to faith in God and His Messiah amid the current challenges. Pray for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit in Israel.