I Prayed have prayed
Lord, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and all Israel. Thank you for the nations, especially in the Middle East, that have already responded favorably to President Trump's plan by signaling a desire to pursue peace. Please let proponents and policies of peace and charity prevail inside Israel and beyond.
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I imagine the Gaza border is not high on the itinerary for many tourists exploring Israel, but I am glad it was on mine. I will never forget walking the grounds of an Israeli moshav community and being able to see through the trees over to Hamas-controlled territory. Knowing my destination, I admit I had prayed a little extra hard that morning. It’s not often that I’m in a region that had just experienced a rocket attack the day before. Nor do I often sit in community centers with windowless “safe rooms” to dart to in case an air raid siren sounds – not an unfamiliar occurrence in those parts.

And yet, I am so thankful to have visited there. Not only did I see a beautiful testament to Israel’s focus on “making the desert bloom,” but also I sensed a determined hope for a brighter future. I was particularly impressed with the Jewish woman who spoke to our small Christian group. She did not gloss over the very real and regular threat of rockets, incendiary balloons, and other terrors aimed at her home and agricultural livelihood. However, she also lived a life of intentional charity. She purposefully would travel down the short stretch of road to the closest Gaza checkpoint and seek out Palestinian neighbors who needed a helping hand. Despite the fears and enmity present in the region, she had built individual friendships by offering rides to the hospital and other acts of love.

Israel is a complicated place with millennia of complicated history. It is a nation that has impacted the world like no other. As I visited holy sites in Jerusalem where the Lord Jesus walked, taught, died, and rose, I could not help but feel humbled, amazed, and empowered in my spirit. And I am not the only one so stirred. The hearts of many are drawn to the land of Israel, and eyes around the globe are always watching it.

Israel is also small. This is not complicated in concept, but it is in effect. It also is not always well understood here in the U.S. – at least it wasn’t by me. Roughly the size of New Jersey, a trip from the Lebanese border to the southern Negev is a matter of hours. You would need even less time to get from Tel Aviv by the Mediterranean Sea to Jordan in the east. In that compact area, many people with many personal and community narratives interwoven in the web of history are living and interacting with each other every day. Every societal complexity and every story of joy, faith, fervor, and pain is always close at hand.

When President Donald Trump unveiled his “deal of the century” this week, I was grateful to see that it attempted to recognize and deal carefully with the close-quarters complexity of the land. Indeed, the “Peace to Prosperity” document offers a helpful review of the history and challenges of the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are frank assessments of current on-the-ground realities and proposals that would require compromise by all parties. The Trump Administration’s plan may not be the final say on a peace deal, but I hope it will galvanize good faith engagement by all concerned.

It is remarkable that in such a difficult environment, Israel has embraced robust democratic values and has become a leader in advanced agriculture, medicine, technology, and humanitarian aid. May we pray that hearts committed to freedom, life-saving innovation, and simple charity will prevail in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Indeed, in the spirit of Psalm 122, may we pray for true peace in Jerusalem and for all in that precious land.

Here are some verses to pray and proclaim on behalf of Israel (thanks to Prayers and Proclamations by Derek Prince):

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.” (Jeremiah 31:10)

Let all those who hate Zion be put to shame and turned back. Let them be as the grass on the housetops,
which withers before it grows up . . . (Psalm 129:5-6)

The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous . . . (Psalm 125:3)

The Lord will not abandon his chosen people, for that would dishonor his great name. He made [Israel] a special nation for himself . . . (1 Samuel 12:22 TLB)

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. (Psalm 33:8-12)

Aaron Mercer is a Contributing Writer with two decades of experience in Washington, D.C.’s public policy arena and Christian associations. A seasoned strategist, he aids organizations with research, analysis, and writing services, and he reflects on faith, technology, and the public square. Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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bill obendorf
February 5, 2020

It is good that our President is a strong supporter of Israel and is doing all he can
to bridge the gap between them and the Palestinians.

Alma
February 3, 2020

Read former peace plan article posted and please pray with me.

Father reveal your purposes and plans to our President. Give him and his advisers divine wisdom to promote peace in the middle east according to Your plan without any division of land to the Palestinians. Be merciful to us. Let your warnings be made loud and clear to our President and Netayanhu not to divide the land, not one inch of the land. We do not want to fall in judgment and have our own land divided beyond politically to include physical separations according to the many prophesies about earthquakes on the coasts and in the center of our Land on the Madrid fault. We saw how a 7.7 earthquake off the coast impacted Florida, Trump’s home state, on the day the plan was revealed, and was the timing of that earthquake exactly 7.7 hours after he stated there would be two states? Guide us and protect us Lord and help us to protect Israel and ourselves from judgment. Grant us clarity of heart and mind to understand Your will.

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Felicia Penner
February 1, 2020

Oh Mighty God, thank you for our President who is again making history by blessing your people Israel. Continue to bless both President Trump and PM Natanyahu, make all crooked roads straight before them, bless the work of their hands by giving both another term in office. May your name be praised both here and in Israel. Thank you for this great blessing that has such spiritual significance in these last days. In the mighty name of Jesus

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Ana
February 1, 2020

Thank You, Lord, for our President who blesses Israel. Jesus, thank You that You will bless those who bless Israel. Bless Trump for blessing Israel. And, Father, bring a wave of salvation all across the Middle East. Bring revival and bring many to You and Your love. Amen

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Dorothy Ter Horst
February 1, 2020

Lord, please confuse the strategy of the demonic realm fueled against Israel. Make one lie prove another wrong until they kill each other and fall to the ground in Jesus name, Amen.

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Ronda Orchard
February 1, 2020

Shabbat Shalom and amen for the love of Israel and the apple of God’s eye. Jerusalem and the nation of Israel shall live in peace. May God’s dwelling place be found alive and well in the hearts and minds of all who choose life over death in the land He gave to his people.

May their eyes become opened to who the Messiah was and is to come. May we embrace the joy of those eyes and hearts letting the Holy Spirit guide them to His word and truth. amen

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