September 2011 Prayer Guide

Isaiah 62 Prayer Campaign

Download the 'Isaiah 62' prayer guide for September 28th (pdf) »

Transformational Times

As we pray this week, the Middle East is undergoing a transformational process; the face of the region is changing before our eyes! Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has just emerged from a heated and historic session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in which the Palestinians demanded the world grant them statehood while refusing to recognize Israel as a homeland for the Jewish people. Meanwhile, all across the Middle East, nations are redefining how they govern themselves and how they position themselves towards Israel. Some commentators within Israel itself speak of the worst crisis facing the nation for many years. It is, for sure, a time for prayer.

Just returning from a brief visit to the United States, I also witnessed grave concern in that great nation and heard the same thing from many people: “The USA is becoming more and more secular and is abandoning its Christian heritage.” It is similar to the transformation we have seen take place in Europe over the course of the past century; a transformation that has seen nation after nation reject their Christian past and embrace a ‘post-Christian’ future. It is, for sure, a time for prayer!

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Prayer Points

Prayers of Thanksgiving - We want to begin by thanking the Lord for His continued faithfulness to Israel and for answering the prayers of the countless thousands who fasted and prayed regarding the events at the United Nations this week. Particularly we want to acknowledge God’s hand in ensuring that:

The vote was prevented – An attempt to force a vote on Palestinian statehood at the United Nations was prevented (at least in the short-term) through a combination of diplomacy and an unequivocal veto threat from US President Barack Obama;
The standoff was defused - A number of nations that were previously ‘on the fence’ backed away from their support for a unilateral declaration Palestinian statehood in part due to the intransigence of the Palestinian leadership and the belligerence of Mahmoud Abbas’ speech to the General Assembly;
Israel’s legitimacy was defended - Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu came across as both conciliatory and reasonable in his willingness to re-start negotiations without preconditions and used the platform of his speech to the General Assembly to make a clear and effective defense of Israel.

Prayers of Petition - However, the spiritual conflict raging over the Middle East is by no means over. This past Sunday, Mahmoud Abbas returned to Ramallah to a hero’s welcome, and called for a ‘Palestinian Spring’ - alluding to the uprisings that have rocked Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya throughout much of the past year. As a result we must continue to pray:

For protection for Israel’s soldiers and civilians as they prepare for the prospect of renewed Palestinian violence, terrorism and hostility;
For wisdom - that the Israeli security and intelligence services would remain one step ahead of those seeking to commit acts of terror and have the ability to respond decisively, effectively and justly, minimizing the loss of life on both sides.
For true peace – that the Palestinian people would begin to have the courage to rise up against the oppression of Islam and the lies of their leaders. That they would begin to demand the true justice that will come when they pursue an honest peace with Israel, and that there would be a move of the Holy Spirit throughout the Palestinian areas to draw these precious people into a reconciled relationship with Jesus – the Prince of Peace.

For more prayer points, read the 'Isaiah 62' prayer guide for September »

Turning the Tide

Yet, we need to understand that in these difficult times there is huge potential for change; I truly believe that it still lies in the hands of the Church today to turn the tide. Millions of believers in Europe and even more in the United States have the most powerful of tools at their disposal: Faithful Prayer! If the people of God turn to God with all their hearts and rededicate their lives fully to Jesus, then the Word of God promises us that he “will hear from heaven, and will forgive [our] sin and heal [our] land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Remember it only took 120 faithful disciples who were filled with the Spirit of God on the Day of Pentecost to impact the world. And they did so to such an extent that, years later when Paul started his ministry in the city of Thessaloniki, the mob cried out: “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too” (Acts 17:6). What a testimony!

If we want to see the tide to turn in the Middle East and believe for revival in this dark region of the world; if we expect the tide to turn in the USA, Europe or wherever we live, then we need to seek the face of God and pray. It is prayer which gives divine authority to our words and actions. Jesus promises us that it is the prayer of faith which can move the greatest mountain (Mark 11:23).

So whatever the situation you see today in the Middle East, whatever the challenge is in your country, turn to the One who says of Himself: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).

I truly believe that as we gather again in prayer today, together we can turn the tide. Let us trust God for this because He is Almighty!

Yours in Christ,

Dr. Jürgen Bühler
ICEJ (Interim) Executive Director