Heavenly Father, I come before You with a heart burdened for the Jewish people, that they may come to know Jesus as their Messiah. Lord, Your Word declares that a veil remains over their hearts when they read the old covenant, but this veil is lifted when they turn to Christ.1 I ask that You remove this veil and open their hearts to receive the truth of the Gospel.
Father, I know that You have not forsaken Israel, but that a partial hardening has come upon them until the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in.2 I pray that this season of hardening would come to an end, and that the Deliverer, Jesus, would come from Zion and turn ungodliness away from Jacob, bringing salvation to Your chosen people.
Your prophet Isaiah spoke of the suffering servant, the one who was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.3 Yet, many still do not believe, though Christ has fulfilled these prophecies.
Lord, open their eyes to see Jesus in the Scriptures, as You did for the disciples on the road to Emmaus.4 Grant them a new heart and a new spirit, removing the heart of stone and replacing it with a heart of flesh.5
I echo the words of the Apostle Paul, whose heart’s desire and prayer was for the salvation of his kinsmen according to the flesh.6 I too feel great sorrow and unceasing anguish for the Jewish people, that they may come to know the glory, the covenants, and the promises fulfilled in Christ.
Father, I ask that You open their eyes to behold wondrous things out of Your law7 and that many would come to see and believe in the Messiah, Jesus, who is blessed forever. Amen.