This coming Sunday, October 6 is the International Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.
The first Sunday in October close to Yom Kippur is the day that was first set aside as a prayer day for Jerusalem. Hundreds of millions of people around the world send up prayers to heaven for the tiny country that holds the worlds attention so closely. Started in 2002, this event is now the largest single focused prayer event in history for Israel.
Why pray for Israel and Jerusalem?
Many reasons:
I learned while there that outside influences from other countries try to dictate the happenings in this little country
Many countries would like to take over this little nation and obliterate it altogether, many have tried multiple times
God commands us to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem in Psalm 122 NIV
“I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” 2 Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.
3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together. 4 That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the Lord— to praise the name of the Lord according to the statute given to Israel. 5 There stand the thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” 8 For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity”
If you read that scripture carefully you would have picked up the blessing that accompanies this scripture:
“May those who love you be secure.” - countries or people who stand with and love Jerusalem will have a blessing for standing with and upholding Israel and Jerusalem.
“For the sake of my family and friends.” - if I chose to align myself with God’s interest in this little nation, God will bless my family and friends. Who would not want that?
Canada has historically aligned itself with Israel and until recently that was never questioned, and up until now we have certainly been blessed as a nation.
If you would like to read Canada’s stand on Israel, I have posted the link below to the official Canadian government page.
Why not remember while you are praying for Israel – to pray for Canada as well, we have a very important election coming up on October 21, 2019.
There is so much power when we all unite together – will you join in?