Isaiah 62 Prayer Campaign

Prayer Letter for December 2025

Dear Prayer Partners,

As we step into the month of December, or Kislev in the Hebrew calendar, we are reminded that this is the season of Hanukkah, the Feast of Dedication. Beyond the familiar lights and stories, Hanukkah is one of the most prophetic moments in Scripture. It points back to one of the darkest chapters in Jewish history, and yet reveals how God forms a people who “know their God” and therefore “stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32 / NASB) It also is a season historically marked by miracles, a time when God shows Himself faithful in ways far beyond human strength.

In the days of the Seleucid Syrian ruler Antiochus IV, darkness fell suddenly on Israel. He sought to impose Hellenistic culture on the Jewish people and demand worship of the Greek pantheon of gods. What began as an ambition for regional dominance soon turned into targeted hostility toward the Jews. After suffering a military defeat in Egypt, Antiochus turned his frustration toward Israel. Jerusalem was in unrest, the people divided, and Antiochus seized control with brutal force. Innocents were slain, sacred practices like circumcision were banned, Scriptures burned, and obedience to God’s covenant was punished by death. The Temple was desecrated, and everything changed almost overnight.

Yet in that moment, Daniel’s prophecy just centuries earlier unfolded. Those who truly knew their God carried out great exploits. They resisted compromise, remained anchored in covenant truth, and shone like lights in a time of deep spiritual darkness. It was in that very darkness the miracle of Hanukkah happened, when a single cruse of pure oil, enough for only one day, burned for eight days in the Menorah. It was a sign that God Himself sustains His people when human capacity runs out. Hanukkah reminds us that God does not abandon His people in crisis; He multiplies what remains and causes His light to outlast the darkness.

This festival teaches us that the battle between light and darkness is both historic and prophetic. Jesus pointed to these passages in Daniel, urging His disciples to watch, stay alert, and stay faithful. Paul echoed this, warning of coming lawlessness that will again test the people of God. Yet Scripture does not leave us fearful, it promises that pressures refine a people who will shine like stars and turn many to righteousness.

Hanukkah is ultimately about rededication and of cleansing the temple, both the physical one long ago and the spiritual temple we are today. In this season of miracles, we too can expect God to move with unusual grace to sustain what seems lacking, to illuminate what feels hidden, and to strengthen what appears weak.

As we move through this month, let us draw near to the Lord with fresh dedication. Let us pray to truly know Him, to walk in intimacy with Yeshua, and to stand firmly in covenant truth. May the light of His presence push back every darkness around us, and may His people be strengthened for whatever shifts may come quickly among the nations.

May the Lord fill your home and heart with His light in this season of dedication and miracles,

Joshua Gooding
Head of Prayer Department
International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

Featured image: <a href=”https://www.vecteezy.com/free-photos/night”>Night Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>

PS: Our next day of prayer and fasting for the Isaiah 62 Prayer Campaign will be on Wednesday, 3 December 2025. 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.