How to Pray for Israel

Written By Carol McLeod

Israel is on everyone's mind.


How could it not be?

Everything else seems to fade in comparison to the atrocities that are happening in a land that is so dear to many of our hearts.

It is increasingly difficult to watch football … to be engaged with holiday preparations … to while away my hours cleaning … to even focus on my work.

I ask myself so many unanswerable questions ...

Why do I get to live safely in a comfortable home in America ... when Israel is under attack?

I took care of my granddaughter today ... and all I could think of is what kind of world will she grow up in? Will she be safe? Will she live in a world of war and terrorism?

I went for a walk today ... in the lovely Oklahoma sunshine ... and I was safe. The only sounds I heard were birds in the trees ... and the laughter of children.

In Israel ... they are hearing rockets roar ... and bombs explode ... and the screams of the injured.


I am hearing from friends in Israel ... most are currently safe ... while knowing of friends and family members who have been injured or taken hostage.

One of my Israeli friends said in an audio message, "We are hanging on ... things will get better ... we will overcome ... but the last 24 hours were very hard ... everyone knows of a loved one or friend who has lost someone."

I went to Israel this past March.

I fell in love with every square inch of the magnificent land upon which the history of the people of God was chiefly written.

The Sea of Galilee ... the Garden Tomb ... the Jordan River ... the Dead Sea ... Bethlehem ... I loved it all.

I deeply loved it all.

I have asked God time and time again since that amazing trip … if He would allow me to live in Israel … now that I know its beauty ... its history ... its people ... its heartbeat.

Oh! How I would love to own a small home by the Sea of Galilee ... where he called his disciples to come and follow Him.

Our brothers and sisters in Israel are praying for peace in their land … while the bombs fall … while the hostages are unaccounted for … while hundreds are being killed mercilessly by “Hamas”.

Hamas in biblical Hebrew means “violence,” “injustice,” “cruelty,” and “wrong.” 

Jewish rabbis often teach “The Law of First Mention”, which means the first time a word appears in scripture, particularly Torah, we must take very careful consideration, as it is far more meaningful. 

The first time we find the word “hamas” is in Genesis 6:11. 

Adonai is grieved to see all of mankind was replete with “hamas”, so He considers using the flood to wipe out the insatiable evil.

I wonder what Adonai is considering today?

“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.

The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.”

Psalm 121

I watch the news and feel so powerless ... but then I remind myself that I am not powerless.

I have been given the greatest power known to mankind: the power of prayer.

Prayer is more powerful than missiles ... or guns ... or swords.

I can pray and I will pray.

I have learned that the Jewish people are praying three specific Psalms ... and have asked us to do the same.

Open your Bibles today ... and pray Psalm 80 ... Psalm 130 ... and Psalm 142 over the nation of Israel.

Would you do that?

Would you read ... out loud ... the words to these Psalms and turn each verse into a prayer?

We are not powerless ... we are history makers.

When others throw in the towel ... we pray.

When others panic ... we pray on.

When others worry ... we pray louder.

As you watch the news ... as you process the horror ... it is time to pray.

It is something we can all do ... it is something we must do.

Today ... would you join me in praying for Israel?

Would you join me in asking God to protect this nation and this people?

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May they prosper who love you.

“May peace be within your walls,

And prosperity within your palaces.”

For the sake of my brothers and my friends,

I will now say, “May peace be within you.”

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,

I will seek your good."

Psalm 122:6-9

I stand with Israel, do you?

"This is the spot on the planet earth that the Lord God looked upon and said, "I will go there." And, in the flesh, as an ordinary Jew, He came." - Elisabeth Elliot 1967.

Thanks for listening to my heart this week.  As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me.  And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!  

Carol McLeod
Carol says, “I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus ... passionately addicted to His Word ... and find all of the joy that I need in time spent in His presence." Carol is a Christmas-aholic, loves ACC basketball and the beach! Like all menopausal women, she is overly fond of chocolate and enjoys a good read. She doesn't like cleaning her house and is an expert in carry-out dinners. She hates to shop … loves to jog … and somehow finds time in her busy life to hang out with small children. She is the kind of woman that you could laugh with over lunch, cry with over disappointment and shout with over a victory! But … if you need her official bio … read on! Carol is an author and popular speaker at women's conferences and retreats, where she teaches the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm. She also hosts highly successful Just Joy! outreaches. Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren! Carol has written three books, "Holy Estrogen!", "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart" and "Defiant Joy!" which was released by a subsidiary of Thomas Nelson. Her teaching DVD, "The Rooms of a Woman's Heart", won the Telly Award, a prestigious industry award, for excellence in religious programming. Carol has also been featured on YouVersion (the smart phone Bible app) with several devotionals, including: "For the Journey Set Before Him", "Jolt of Joy", and "Joy to YOUR world", " Carol has a daily radio program, "Defiant Joy! Radio" which is available in several national markets including Youngsville PA, Warren PA, Buffalo NY, Roanoke VA, Norfolk VA, and Nashville TN.  A 1977 graduate of Oral Roberts University with a degree in Music and English, Carol has the distinction of being both the first Women's Chaplain and the first woman to speak at the university's Vespers.  Carol currently serves on the ORU Alumni Board as chaplain.  She is married to her college sweetheart and love of her life, Craig, who serves as senior pastor of Life Church, a church near Buffalo, NY.  Craig and Carol have been happily married for nearly 37 years and are the parents of five children and three delightful daughters-in-law. Craig and Carol are thrilled with the joy of being grandparents to five precious grandchildren!
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