Those who love Israel and the Jewish people love to pray for them. Yet, sometimes we may wonder how to pray for them. General prayers for salvation and protection come immediately to mind, but after that, we may not know what to pray. Since July contains national holidays for both Canada and the United States, we thought we’d draw inspiration for prayer from the themes surrounding each of these holidays.
Canada Day is July 1. It celebrates the forming of a Confederation which unified three separate British colonies – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the Province of Canada (now Quebec and Ontario) – into one Dominion of Canada. This historic event paved the way for Canada’s development into the sovereign nation it is today.
July 4th is U.S. Independence Day. With the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the free and sovereign nation of the United States of America was born.
Building on these themes of unity and freedom, here are 10 scriptural ways you can pray for Israel during the remainder of the summer.
Unity
Like most countries, Israel is composed of people with differing opinions and ideologies. Divisions exist regarding politics, policies, ethnicities, the war, the hostages, and many other vital issues. Also, like many nations, these differences seem to be growing more emphatic, passionate, and vocal.
Naïve as it is to expect perfect agreement among such a diverse population, unity is worth praying for because it is something God highly values. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) “High Priestly Prayer” of John 17, He prayed to the Father five times that His followers “be one” and live in unity. And while we know that He was speaking of the body of those who believe He is the Messiah, unity is desirable, to whatever degree it can be achieved, among those who don’t believe in Him. God deeply loves Israel, His “treasured possession,” and unity is dear to His heart.
Here are some ways you can pray for unity in Israel. Understanding that only Yeshua is the true unifier who brings peace among divided people, pray also for eyes and hearts to open to Him.
Love
“And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:14).
Love brings hearts and minds together. Pray for love to reign.
Increased Harmony
“Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10 TLV).
Pray for increased harmony, understanding, and cooperation among people of different opinions, faiths, and worldviews – leaders and everyday citizens.
Common Ground
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Messiah, if there is any comfort of love, if there is any fellowship of the Ruach [Spirit], if there is any mercy and compassion, then make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love, united in spirit, with one purpose” (Philippians 2:1–2 TLV).
One of the quickest ways to come together is by focusing on common ground and shared values. Pray for unity in Israel and among Jewish people, that they can move toward each other rather than away when they disagree.
No Division
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: ‘Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall’” (Luke 11:17).
Division makes things weaker. Pray for Israel to stand strong, defending its right to exist, protecting its people, and homeland.
Pleasantness
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
Pray for the spread of unity and its pleasantness throughout Israel and among the Jewish people. Pray for protection, security, and unity.
Freedom
Since sin entered the world, mankind has not been free from its effects. Captivity of some sort – whether literal, emotional, mental, or spiritual – is often part of our existence in a fallen world. Since our liberation as a people from Egypt, we have been grateful to God for our freedom. Even so, we cannot escape the problems and trials, sorrows and sufferings of life since The Fall. God promised us One who would break yokes of bondage and set captives free. He has done that for us in the Messiah, yet we will not know complete freedom until the age to come. In the meantime, we wait in hope and pray for the precious freedom He offers us here and now.
Here are some ways you can pray for freedom for God’s people.
True Freedom
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).
True freedom is only found in Yeshua, the Messiah. Pray for the salvation of all Israel so that they might know the freedom God intended for them all along as His people.
Freedom for Captives
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).
Pray for the Israeli hostages still held captive in Gaza, that they will be freed soon. Pray also for freedom and healing for those held captive to trauma, grief, fear, and other life crises.
The Truth
“Then Yeshua said to the Judeans who had trusted Him, ‘If you abide in My word, then you are truly My disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!’” (John 8:31-32 TLV).
Pray that God will make the truth known to Israel and the Jewish people – the truth about Yeshua, about governance and security matters, and more.
Freeing the Burdened
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6–7 NKJV).
Pray for the Messianic Jewish ministries and Believers in Israel. They serve their neighbors with the love of Yeshua by meeting their needs in times of crisis, helping set them on paths to recovery from various life burdens and finding spiritual freedom in Messiah.
The Lord’s Spirit
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
Pray that the Spirit of the Lord will move throughout Israel, among Jewish populations worldwide – in neighborhoods, synagogues, and organizations, calling His people to freedom in Yeshua.
What other ways can you pray for Israel, focusing on themes of unity and freedom? Let the Holy Spirit guide your prayers, and, as always, pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).
