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Hope in Difficult Times

Friday, February 16, 2024

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Every week, we post seven to ten news stories from Israel with a suggested prayer focus and scripture for each one, guiding readers how to pray for Israel’s most urgent needs. This Prayer Update is also sent to over 18,000 subscribers every Friday by e-mail. Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like to receive this Prayer Update by e-mail.

Prayer Focus
Praise God for the release of these two hostages! Pray for God’s healing touch as they recover from trauma and face a new reality in their lives. Pray that the IDF will continue to receive solid and trustworthy intel for more rescue operations, and cry out to the Lord for the return of every hostage.

Scripture

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.


- Psalm 107:19–20 ESV

Prayer Focus
Beseech the Lord for a satisfactory resolution to the situation in the north, either through diplomatic means that do not compromise Israel’s interests or through military means if necessary. Pray that Hezbollah will soon come to realize that although Israel is in crisis, Israel is not weak because the God of Israel will give them the victory.

Scripture

Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.


- Deuteronomy 28:10

Prayer Focus
Pray that any attempts by Iran to build a nuclear bomb will fail. Cry out to the Lord for a unified resolve among the nations to take whatever action necessary to bring an end to Iranian nuclear capability.

Scripture

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.


- Psalm 2:2–4 ESV

Prayer Focus
Cry out to God for these women and young girls who have suffered sexual abuse and rape at the hands of Hamas monsters. Pray that the Lord will heal their physical, psychological and emotional wounds and restore them to wholeness. Ask the Lord to give them strength and courage to face the future and to tell their stories. Also pray for an international outcry against this barbarity.

Scripture

I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first.


- Jeremiah 33:6b–7

Prayer Focus
Pray that a plan can be put in place that will satisfy all parties and actually accomplish its purpose, that of protecting civilians as Israel enters its next phase in the war against Hamas. Pray that such a major initiative will be successful and accomplished in a timely fashion.

Scripture

Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established…The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.


- Proverbs 16:3, 9 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray for the “sensitive negotiations” that will ensure Egyptian cooperation in the effort to deal with over a million displaced Gazans. Ask the Lord to protect Egypt’s treaty with Israel and pray that Hamas operatives hiding among civilians will be identified and made to face the consequences of their actions.

Scripture

You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.


- Micah 7:20

Prayer Focus
Pray for the resignation of Commissioner-General Lazzarini and the dismantling of UNWRA. Pray that the body of evidence of UNRWA’s involvement with Hamas and their complicity in the October 7 massacre that Israel is amassing will become too comprehensive to be ignored.

Scripture

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.


- Nahum 1:2 ESV

Prayer Focus
As the nations arrogantly “decide” what the future holds for Gaza, pray that God’s will is done. Beseech the Lord that Israel will remain unwavering in their refusal to turn the Strip over to the PA, a terrorist organization that supports Hamas. And pray that global leaders, particularly those in the US, will recognize the absurdity of putting a government in place that will recreate the situation that hundreds of Israelis are giving their lives to eliminate.

Scripture

The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.


- Isaiah 2:11 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray that the nations will heed the voice of President Milei when he quotes Israeli President Herzog as saying it was the indifference of the free world that made the Nazi Holocaust possible, cautioning against a repeat of that apathy today. Pray that President Milei’s strong feelings for Israel will result in the support of Argentina at the UN and the move of the Argentinian embassy to Jerusalem in the near future.

Scripture

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.


- Proverbs 17:17

Prayer Focus
Pray that the fear of the Lord will fall upon every Hamas operative, and that they will not only surrender, but that many will turn to the God of Israel.

Scripture

“For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.”


- Joshua 2:10–11