Friday, March 8, 2024

Prayer Focus
Pray for Israel, an entire nation in mourning. Cry out to the Lord for His comfort to touch the hearts of every person who has lost a loved one, every injured victim, and their families, for physical and psychological healing, and for spiritual renewal for those whose lives have been shattered. Beseech the Lord for supernatural protection for the hostages and for their soon release. And weep before the Lord for the children, crying out for His love to surround them, for His presence to be a reality for each of them.

Scripture

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

- Psalm 23:4 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray for all those who are mourning the loss of these two innocent Israelis, Yitzchak Zeiger, a grandfather, and Uria Hartum, a high school student. Cry out to the Lord for supernatural alertness and sound intelligence that will assist security forces in preventing these attacks before innocent people are killed or wounded.

Scripture

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

- Isaiah 30:21 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray that the international community will accept Israel’s review of the tragic incident on February 29 and that Hamas’ plan to use control of aid supplies to reassert power in northern Gaza will be thwarted. Pray that ongoing deliveries of humanitarian supplies will not fall into the hands of terrorists but will reach those who are in desperate need.

Scripture

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

- Proverbs 22:16 ESV

Residents of Gaza Border Community Return Home with ‘Heavy but Beating Hearts’

by Ilana Curiel and Matan Tzuri ~ Ynetnews

Friday, 1 March 2024 | More than four months after their small community was evacuated due to Hamas’s murderous onslaught on southern Israel, residents of Shlomit returned home on Thursday, their convoy adorned with Israeli flags stretching as far as the eye could see.

Four Shlomit residents fell in the battles on October 7: Bechor Swid, Oriel Bibi, Aviad Cohen and Reouven Chicheportiche.

Swid and Bibi fell at the Magen Junction, while Cohen and Chicheportiche were killed at Moshav Pri Gan, where they helped avert a massacre. The battle at Pri Gan was crucial in preventing further harm to the community and surrounding settlements at risk of terrorist attacks. Additionally, four other Shlomit residents were wounded in the fighting.

“Today, we return to Shlomit as a unified and cohesive community,” said Kobi Revivo, a resident of Shlomit. “We left as one, and we return as one, minus four remarkable people who left us a path that we must fulfill—to continue to grow, blossom and add life. Let the people of Israel know that we, the residents of Shlomit, are coming back to the place we love, drawing strength from it to continue settling.”

Resident Shiran Harush said: “After four months away from home, we are returning with heavy but beating hearts with many fears and, yet, great excitement. Our community and our hearts have a gaping hole over the loss of our friends who were killed on October 7 while defending the neighboring community of Pri Gan. We know the war is far from over. We pray for the return of the hostages and the safety of our soldiers! But it was important for us to return to remember what we are actually fighting for. Here, we are engaged in rebuilding and revival.”

Source: (This article was originally published by Ynetnews on February 29, 2024. Time-related language has been modified to reflect our republication today. See original article at this link.)

Photo Credit: Chenspec/Wikimedia.org

Photo License: Wikimedia

Prayer Focus
Praise God that the residents of Shlomit have come home! Pray for them as they deal with the trauma of returning to the scene of such devastation and loss. Pray that the Lord will protect them from further terrorist activity and strengthen them as they rebuild their kibbutz and their lives. Ask the Lord to give them joy in the midst of their pain.

Scripture

When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

- Psalm 94:19 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray for a move of God across the globe, awakening people to the evils of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. Pray that people will see the dangers of the Marxist-Leninist ideology that has taken hold, particularly among young people, and cry out to the Lord for brave parents, educators, and leaders who will raise their voices against this evil and bring the truth to those who have fallen victim to a false and very dangerous narrative.

Scripture

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD!

- Psalm 31:24 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray that, for once, the United Nations will actually live up to their stated raison d’etre by declaring Hamas a terrorist organization, acknowledging the sexual violence that occurred on October 7 and continues to threaten Israeli women who are being held captive in Gaza, and take whatever steps possible to facilitate the release of the hostages. If UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres does not respond quickly and decisively to Special Envoy Pramila Patten’s urgent requests, beseech the Lord for His removal and for a replacement who is not steeped in anti-Semitism.

Scripture

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

- Psalm 140:12 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray for protection for all of those who live in the north of Israel and for the security forces as they work to secure the northern border. Pray that Israeli leaders will hear the voice of the Lord as they make decisions and will proceed courageously and successfully in mitigating the threat from Hezbollah and their patron state, Iran.

Scripture

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”

- Psalm 32:8 ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray that this travesty will not be allowed to continue, and those UNRWA employees who participated in the October 7 massacre and the subsequent hostage situation, will be held accountable for their actions. Pray that UNRWA will be dismantled and, if necessary, replaced with an organization that is committed to caring for the needs of the people of Gaza and the elimination of an education system that has taught thousands of Gazans to hate and murder Israelis.

Scripture

Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!

- Isaiah 10:1–2b ESV

Prayer Focus
Pray that Yahya Sinwar will be captured and brought to justice. Pray that his outrageous statements will reach the ears of international leaders, helping to restore the relationship between Israel and her global partners.

Scripture

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people. A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

- Proverbs 28:15–16 ESV