Isaiah 62 Prayer Campaign

Prayer Letter for January 2026

Dear Prayer Partners,

The year 2026 begins with tremendous challenges for both the Church and Israel. Secularism is on the rise, biblical values are eroding, free speech is under attack, and antisemitism has reached dangerous levels. Harsh criticism of Israel and Jews is even emerging among conservative Christians.

Yet good things are happening, too! Israel’s victories against Hamas, Hizbullah and Iran means the Middle East is in a better place than two years ago. For the first time in decades, Lebanese Christians have hope. There also are signs of renewal in many Western churches. While traditional churches continue to decline in numbers, Evangelical churches have encouraging growth among the younger generations. The UK Bible Society even speaks of a “quiet revival” occurring across Britain. Further, many churches are developing a renewed awareness of Israel. The October 7 terror invasion and ensuing wave of antisemitic protests made it clear to many that being neutral towards Israel is no longer an option. The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk also has sparked a youth revival in America, with a strong emphasis on supporting Israel.

Clearly, we stand at a crossroads that calls for a decision not merely between good and evil, but between the old default and the path God has prepared for us.  We need to ask ourselves where do we stand on God’s purposes? Where do we stand on the Gospel? Where do we stand on Israel? And what about our personal relationship with Christ? Do we still hear the voice of the Good Shepherd?

Historian Christopher Clark, in his book Sleepwalkers, describes how Europe in the early 1900s “sleepwalked” with open eyes into the catastrophe of World War One. I fear that many Christians today are sleepwalking into our current turbulent times. They attend church every Sunday, raise their hands at the right moments, and never fail to give an offering, yet many are drifting through these last days burdened with the cares of this world. To them, Paul’s warning to the Romans is still relevant today: “…you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep” (Romans 13:11 / ESV).

As we enter the new year, this is an appropriate moment to take stock of our lives—or as Paul continues in the same passage: “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Romans 13:12 / ESV) Are we awake, or are we simply sleepwalking through the same religious routines as last year? As people of prayer, let us enter this year seeking the Lord for a fresh touch in our lives. Let us pray for revival, not only in our churches but in our own hearts. Let us repent of anything that separates us from God’s purposes and keeps us from fulfilling them.

As with every year, the ICEJ begins the new year with a season of prayer and fasting. Together, we want to draw nearer to God, discern the great opportunities He has prepared for us, and identify the areas where we need to amend our ways. We will pray for exciting new initiatives the Lord has placed upon our hearts and believe for another season of growth for the ICEJ family worldwide. Please join us in our daily Global Prayer Gatherings and, as a spiritual family, let us start the new year united together in prayer.

I look forward to praying with you.

Dr. Jürgen Bühler
President
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

Featured image: <a href=”https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/peaceful“>Peaceful Stock photos by Vecteezy</a> <a href=”https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/hourglass“>Hourglass Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>

PS: Our next day of prayer and fasting for the Isaiah 62 Prayer Campaign will be on Wednesday, 7 January 2026. Also, please join our daily Global Prayer Gathering at 4:30 PM (Israel time) to pray for the nation of Israel. So, please join us there at on.icej.org/ICEJGlobalPrayer

And let us hear from you about your needs and how God has answered your prayers! Send a short email to prayer@icej.org to let us know you are praying and fasting with us.