The following request was sent by our friend from Bethlehem, Arlette
Flefel 

40 Days Of Prayer for Bethlehem 

1st, September- 10th, October 

Dear Friends, 

We are a group of intercessors who started praying for Bethlehem during
the Intifada. Bethlehem was the first city to be reoccupied by the
Israeli forces in September as it was preparing itself for the
celebration of Christmas 2000 that was planned to last for one year.
During that invasion we felt that we were in real danger. The tanks were
stationed on the high hills, and their cannons targeted many houses in
our neighborhood. Obviously everybody was in a state of panic. This is
when we learned to pray on our knees and more often totally prostrated
on the floor (to avoid the bullets that were flying in all directions).
Some of you, who read the e-mail that we sent asking for prayers, could
sense the panic we were experiencing, and could understand the urgency
of praying and interceding for this Land. We are grateful to all those
who responded and joined us in prayer. Today we are calling on you to
join us for 40 days of prayer for the Holy Land in General and for the
Bethlehem area in particular. 

The idea of praying for Bethlehem for forty days was birthed is the
heart of two ladies, my friend Karin Boydgian, and myself. One afternoon
we planned with her husband to visit some families in Bethlehem. Our
intention was to listen to their problems and to extend to them some
material and moral support. It was a long, heavy afternoon. By the time
we reached the last house we could not go up the stairs (Karen has a hip
problem and I have a knee problem, and by now we had gone up and down
many stairs). We were also exhausted and overwhelmed by what we heard,
so much that we asked Tony, Karen’s husband, to visit with the last
family alone while Karen and I waited for him in the car. The famous
Star Street in the old town of Bethlehem, which was twinkling with
beautiful electrical stars during the 2000 celebrations, was dark, and
piles of garbage overflowed from the garbage bins (The garbage
collectors had gone on strike because the municipality was not able to
pay them for the last few months). We had to close the car windows and
wait. It was unbearably hot. We were tired, exhausted and speechless.
What struck us in the face was the magnitude of the need. No group of
well meaning persons, no organization, not even a government could undo
the damage that was inflicted on the people and the city for four long
years. We looked up and said, “Lord where are you? Only you can help!”
At this point it dawned on us that we should commit ourselves for a long
period of prayer. 

We realized that so far we had focused for the last four years, and
rightly so, on asking God for protection. He did indeed protect us; each
one of us can testify to the goodness of our God. As we continue our
prayers of praise and thanksgiving for the way Our Lord has held us in
the palm of His hands and as we continue to acknowledge how he has
protected us, cared for us, and provided for our needs, we now ask Him
to undo the damage, to restore and to heal. 

We call on you to join us, as we humble ourselves, fast (for those who
are able to) and pray that God will look from heaven and have mercy on
this land. Before we intercede for others let us first: 

Pray that the Holy Spirit will be with us throughout the forty days,
that He will guide and direct our prayers. Pray for our eyes to be on
the coming of his kingdom and the prevalence of his righteousness. Pray
that He gives us His wisdom and His compassion, so that when we pray
according to our father’s heart, we have the assurance that He hears and
answers our prayers. We know that He has good plans for us. He has good
plans for the town and the people of Bethlehem. 

Pray for protection for all those whose who have committed themselves to
praying with us inside and outside the country. We are all aware that we
can be under spiritual attack. Let us commit ourselves daily to a prayer
of protection for one another. Pray that many people will know about our
prayer and will be lead to join us. 

Now let us pray for: 

Urgent needs 

The infrastructure of Bethlehem has been virtually destroyed; the rate
of unemployment is 70%. The Wall that snakes around the town and the
surrounding villages, and at certain parts inside the towns and villages
is a virtual nightmare. Land has been confiscated. Olive trees have been
uprooted reducing land on which people depended for their livelihood
into a desert. The wall chokes the towns and limits the mobility of the
people. It prevents them from performing basic tasks and fulfilling
basic needs; such as going to school, or work or even seeking medical
help. To say that the wall merely inflicts hardship on the people is a
gross understatement. There is a sense of helplessness and hopelessness
that is generating a lot of anger. There is fear and uncertainty of what
the future holds. 

Pray that God will lift the cloud of depression. Pray that the people in
their distress will look up to Him as their only provider. 

Pray for the restoration of the economy, especially tourism on which the
town almost totally depends. 

Pray that God will give ideas to business people and entrepreneurs for
projects that do not rely totally on tourism. Pray that He will give
them the resources and the ability to carry out these projects. 

Pray for a good season of rain and for abundance that the trees will
produce enough to meet the need. 

Pray for the Wall to tumble down and to be dismantled peacefully. 

Dear friends, we will keep you informed, and will continue to share with
you the needs that the Lord is leading us to pray for. We will also be
glad to hear from you at: aflefel@p-ol.com 

Blessings, 

Arlette Flefel 

On behalf of the intercessors in Bethlehem 

Please share this email with all those who can join us in prayer.