How to Pray for Israel and the Middle East
Many of you are wondering how you can be praying for Israel and the Middle East. As Christians our attention easily turns first to the people of Israel, and rightly so for many reasons. But we also recognize that many of the citizens of Gaza who have been killed or forced to evacuate are innocent and are not part of Hamas. Needless to say this is a challenging situation and it is complicated further by conflicting media opinions, political issues, and the possibility of the conflict escalating. So then, how should we pray? Prayer to some may look like an excuse for inaction, but we believe that it unleashes a powerful force for good even in the direst of situations.
Let’s start with some very important reminders:
1. God loves Israelis, Palestinians, everyone in the Middle East, and everyone in the world
3. Israel has a special place in God’s providential plan of redemption.
Now let’s pray according to the prayer Jesus gave us, which we call the Lord‘s prayer:
Our Father in heaven …
Abba, Father, we treasure your presence in our lives and in the world. Please reveal your tender love to all in this war-torn area.
Hallowed be your name …
Lord, your name stands for who you are: “God is great, God is good.” We ask that your great name be lifted high, especially among all the Christians in this region, both Palestinian believers and Jewish believers. Help them live in such a way that others hallow and praise your name.
Your kingdom come …
Lord, your kingdom is where what you want done, is done. It’s where you reign fully, without any earthly interference or human interruption. We don’t see your Kingdom in the world nearly enough! We want to be front row witnesses of your Kingdom of righteousness and love extending over all the earth, especially the Middle East. Please do this, O Lord!
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven …
Lord, your will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” That sounds like Shalom—a deep peace and order that reflect who you are and what you really want. Terrorism and war aren’t what you want. But we don’t know what we can do to change that. We feel helpless half a world away. So we pray … let your will be done!
Give us today our daily bread …
You are the God of provision. Please provide for all who are suffering: food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, clothes for the naked, medical care for the wounded and sick, grace for all.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors …
Your mercy, O Lord, reaches to the highest heavens, and your pardon to the depths of the sea. Forgive each of us for the violence we have nurtured in our hearts. For out of the heart comes murder and warfare. (Matthew 15:17-18) And while we haven’t harmed anyone in Gaza or Israel, we pray for our friends in the Middle East to have the grace to forgive those who have harmed them.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one …
Father, this horrible mess in the Middle East is being orchestrated by the hateful heart of the Evil One, who “comes to kill, steal, and destroy.” (John 10:10) By your saving hand, please halt all evil and evildoers, so that justice and truth may reign, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen!
We bow before you because you are God, and we are not. You hold the universe in your hands and hold all things together. When we find ourselves focusing on the world and ourselves too much, remind us that everything big and important belong to you, both now and forever, world without end, Amen.
Finally, let us pray for SHALOM, God’s total peace and wellbeing, for everyone in Israel, Gaza, and the entire Middle East.
Let’s start with some very important reminders:
1. God loves Israelis, Palestinians, everyone in the Middle East, and everyone in the world
- Read Psalm 145, 9, 17
- Read John 3:16-17
- And because he loves all people, his heart breaks when anyone perishes, of any nationality, of any religion, or any side in a war.
2. Palestinians are not all Muslims, many are Christians
- 2% of the population in Israel are Christians (= 188,000 Christian)
- 75% of the Christians in Israel are Palestinians (= 141,000 Palestinian Christians)
- There are 1M Palestinian Christians living in the Middle East
3. Israel has a special place in God’s providential plan of redemption.
- God chose Abraham to start a new nation that would be his chosen people (Genesis 12:1-3)
- God chose to send his Son into the world through the line of Israel (Romans 1:1-3)
- God will mysteriously call Israel back to him in his plan of salvation (Romans 11:25-32) –
- And this fact does not supersede point number 1, that God loves all people!
Our Father in heaven …
Abba, Father, we treasure your presence in our lives and in the world. Please reveal your tender love to all in this war-torn area.
Hallowed be your name …
Lord, your name stands for who you are: “God is great, God is good.” We ask that your great name be lifted high, especially among all the Christians in this region, both Palestinian believers and Jewish believers. Help them live in such a way that others hallow and praise your name.
Your kingdom come …
Lord, your kingdom is where what you want done, is done. It’s where you reign fully, without any earthly interference or human interruption. We don’t see your Kingdom in the world nearly enough! We want to be front row witnesses of your Kingdom of righteousness and love extending over all the earth, especially the Middle East. Please do this, O Lord!
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven …
Lord, your will is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” That sounds like Shalom—a deep peace and order that reflect who you are and what you really want. Terrorism and war aren’t what you want. But we don’t know what we can do to change that. We feel helpless half a world away. So we pray … let your will be done!
Give us today our daily bread …
You are the God of provision. Please provide for all who are suffering: food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, clothes for the naked, medical care for the wounded and sick, grace for all.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors …
Your mercy, O Lord, reaches to the highest heavens, and your pardon to the depths of the sea. Forgive each of us for the violence we have nurtured in our hearts. For out of the heart comes murder and warfare. (Matthew 15:17-18) And while we haven’t harmed anyone in Gaza or Israel, we pray for our friends in the Middle East to have the grace to forgive those who have harmed them.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one …
Father, this horrible mess in the Middle East is being orchestrated by the hateful heart of the Evil One, who “comes to kill, steal, and destroy.” (John 10:10) By your saving hand, please halt all evil and evildoers, so that justice and truth may reign, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
For yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen!
We bow before you because you are God, and we are not. You hold the universe in your hands and hold all things together. When we find ourselves focusing on the world and ourselves too much, remind us that everything big and important belong to you, both now and forever, world without end, Amen.
Finally, let us pray for SHALOM, God’s total peace and wellbeing, for everyone in Israel, Gaza, and the entire Middle East.