After the war: How to pray specifically for Israel and Iran

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer…He shot His arrows and scattered the enemies…He rescued me from my powerful enemy…You armed me with strength for battle, You made my adversaries bow at my feet…Praise be to my Rock; exalted be God my Savior. He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me…Therefore, I will praise You among the nations, O Lord!” (Psalm 18:2-49, NIV)

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and top officials have announced that all goals of the Israel-Iran War have been met. Testimonies abound of miracles in strategic and tactical planning, as well as in the execution of those plans. Otherwise unimaginable, brilliant military achievements were divinely inspired. Heaven even moved President Trump to deploy bunker busting bombs owned and operated only by the US. And while we deeply regret and mourn for the suffering of thousands of civilians, Israeli casualties have been far less than expected. Many Israeli leaders and lay people alike openly give Him the glory---and so do we! 

But the job isn’t quite done.

Bombs and missiles did what they could. Complete victory, however, can only come with the fall of the Islamic Republic, its tyrannical regime and devilishly iron-fisted, Islamist rule. 

The key to full victory may lie in the hands of followers of Yeshua, the worldwide Church. 

As militaries cease fire, it’s time for Messiah’s warrior-bride to seize fire---Holy Spirit fire to fast and pray for Iran’s surrender to the goodness of God. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Here are 5 compelling issues into which we can now pray, along with specific prayer points and Scriptures.

1.The Ceasefire

Background: Despite the results of the war, polls indicate there is significant disappointment among grassroots Israelis with the ceasefire. Some reliable sources say the nuclear threat has been pushed back by just 2-3 years. Possibly still equipped with stockpiles of enriched uranium (see below) Iran has formally withdrawn from IAEA supervision. So, in 2-3 years, barring an overthrow of the Islamist regime, we may have to face another war. 

🙏 Praise and thank God for His astounding victory (Psalm 18)! If the ceasefire is pleasing to Him, may He bless and keep it securely in place. But if not, and if God views it as a type of “covenant of death” described in Isaiah 28:15-19, may the ceasefire, cease. If perhaps Israel and the US did not finish the job God wanted them to do, pray that circumstances unfold to justify completing the mission (2 Kings 13:14-19, Psalm 33:10-12, Matthew 6:10). Pray for a genuine covenant of life and peace to be established between Israel and Iran (Psalm 46:9, Jeremiah 49:38, Genesis 12:3). May God provide divine wisdom and strategy for Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump in dealing with Iran, especially with respect to the jihadi doctrine of hudna (false peacemaking). (Matthew 6:10, Proverbs 21:1, Psalms 5:9-12; 52:1-5; 120:1-7; 109:1-7, 26-27)

2. Enriched Uranium 

Background: Based on inconclusive evidence, some experts say Iran probably relocated some of its enriched uranium stockpile shortly before Israeli-US strikes at sites were it had been housed. With stockpiles of hidden, enriched uranium, Iran could in the near future build portable dirty bombs, transport them to sleeper cells, and potentially threaten the world. 

🙏 Pray that Iranian stockpiles of enriched uranium--if any--will be discovered and disposed of safely. Pray for divine guidance, intel and protection for Israeli, American or other agents said to be searching for the uranium. “I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3). “He frustrates the devices of the crafty…and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end” (Job 5:12-13). Pray special protection over the US, Israel and other nations from Iranian sleeper cell terror attacks (Isaiah 54:17, Psalms 91; 27:1-6; 34:7 and many more).

3. Anti-Israelism, Anti-Semitism and Jihad

Background: In the wake of the war, grassroots movements, key nations, and international bodies are intensifying demands for a Palestinian state. Any expansion of the Abraham Accords would presumably include terms agreeing to some form of a two state solution. Meanwhile, anti-Jewish violence continues to mount worldwide. Pro-Hamas protests have turned openly pro-Iranian in the cities of some Western nations. We are hearing unofficial reports of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) arresting dozens of Iranian Jews (and some Christians), accusing them, without evidence, of collaborating with Israel.

🙏 Pray for a global release of the fear of the Lord through a merciful, love-driven but rude awakening  to His irrevocable covenant with Israel (Genesis 12:3, Joel 3:2). May Church leaders awaken to the deception of replacement theologies in its various expression, and courageously renounce it (Romans 12:1-2). For individuals who neither know nor fear the Lord, pray for a merciful awakening of moral clarity that justifies, by simple logic, the existence of a Jewish state. Pray for the safety of Jews and Christians in Iran from any evil backlash from the war.

4. The Prince of Persia and Islamist Regime

Background: In Daniel Chapters 9 and 10, we learn about a high-ranking, satanic principality identified as the prince of Persia. It seems this territorial principality still stakes claim to today’s Persian kingdom, aka Iran. Therefore, the ultimate battle in Operation Rising Lion is spiritual and ideological. Bombs did what they could; fasting and prayer are key to turning the final tide. In Daniel 9 and 10, the prophet’s 21 days of fasting and prayer evoked and strengthened archangels to overcome the prince of Persia. Therefore, some Israeli prayer leaders have launched a global, 21 day, Daniel 9-10 fast.

As we fast and pray, bear in mind the IRCG serves as Iran’s most elite military corps, functioning also as a formidable state police. The IRGC plays a major role in Iranian politics, economy and foreign policy. Against Iran’s unarmed civilian population, it is potentially capable of quelling any grassroots rebellion. However, exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is now a voice (among others) for peaceful regime change. He has presented a platform for transitioning to a democratic, secular government, offering a secure venue for members of the regime who wish to defect and form an organized opposition to it.

🙏 Pray for the Iranian regime’s soon collapse, with minimum loss of innocent life. Pray that many individual members of the regime would repent and turn to the God of Israel. As in biblical times, may He then inspire confusion and internal discord in the regime, especially the IRGC, such that unrepentant members turn on each other and destroy their own organization (2 Chronicles 20:22-23, Judges 7:22, 1 Samuel 14:20). According to the words of Yeshua, prayerfully proclaim that the house of the Islamic Republic, divided against itself, cannot stand (Matthew 12:25-26). Pray for a righteous and just replacement of the regime. May God give monumental grace for grassroots opposition movements to organize under anointed leadership that He raises up. May He protect and anoint Reza Pahlavi for this purpose. May He soon free the good people of Iran from the yoke of tyranny they’ve so long endured (Matthew 6:10, Psalm 12:5, Jeremiah 49:35-39, Isaiah 19:23-25, Daniel 2:21).

5. A New Middle East

Background: For years, many of us have prayed for a grace period of peace and freedom in the Middle East, for the sake of reaching Muslims and Jews with the Gospel. The prophetic Scriptures indicate such a period may occur, but may be of relatively short duration. Perhaps the Abraham Accords will soon play a significant role in the outworking of those Scriptures. Meanwhile, Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of a military coalition involving Iran, led by Gog-Magog, attacking Israel in a future apocalyptic war. Some say the attack of October 7, 2023, heralds this war, and imminently so. Time will tell, prayer will prevail and God will be good! 

🙏 Pray for a new Middle East to emerge as a result of the crippling or collapse of the Islamist Republic. Pray for magnificent mercy upon Israel for internal unity---that furiously anti-Netanyahu civil unrest preceding the war not now rear its head (Psalm 133). May the Prince of Peace bring healing and comfort to innocent Israelis and Iranians who suffered severe physical or psychological harm in the war. Pray for the release of hostages still held in Gaza and for a just end to the war with Hamas. May Israel extend sovereignty over all the land God wants us to have at this time. Pray in agreement with His heart that all nations in the Middle East receive opportunity to turn to Him and be saved. Prayerfully proclaim prophetic Scriptures indicating these nations will someday abandon Islam and, together with Israel, worship YHVH alone. Those Scriptures find their consummate fulfillment after Yeshua returns. But they are beginning to come to pass now. In that, we rejoice. (Matthew 6:10, Isaiah 19:23-25, Jeremiah 49: 38-39.