Guidelines for the leader

• Review the group guidelines with those present.
• Prepare the room in advance - arrange the seating (in a circle is best) and maybe have some spiritual music playing in the background as people arrive.
• Welcome people as they enter.
• Make sure that the meeting starts on time.
• Open and close the meeting with prayer.
• To keep the prayers focused and, if need be, to gently interrupt those prayers that are starting to stray such as long winded, preachy or otherwise 'fleshly' prayers (the leader needs to be spiritually discerning and able to admonish in love).
• Ensure that each topic gets prayed through before moving onto the next one.

Guidelines for the group

• Come early so that the prayer meeting can start on time.
• Be sensitive to others - there might be several different denominations represented in the group and all having differing levels of liberty and freedom. Remember that the unity of the group is more importance than individual liberty.
• Don't feel obligated to pray just because everybody else has and you haven't or that you think it's your turn because the person next to you just prayed.
• Let each pray according to the leading of the Spirit rather than the traditional 'taking turns in a circle' method.
• Listen to each prayer and say "Amen" only if you agree with what was prayed.
• Speak clearly and loud enough for others in the group to hear. It's difficult to agree in prayer if you can't hear what is being said.
• Bring you Bibles. The Lord might lead you to read a short passage or to remind you of a Scripture verse.
• Switch off your cell phones. If the babysitter needs to be able to contact you then switch your ring tone to 'buzzer' and keep your phone in your pocket. It is also a good idea to disconnect the house phone for the duration of the prayer meeting so as to avoid needless interuptions.

Points to remember

• Before the prayer time starts, quietly ask the Holy Spirit to show you any unconfessed sin in your life: nothing hinders prayer more than sin.
• It goes without saying, or it should, that we ought to know the Bible and to know it well. We need to arm ourselves with the knowledge that the Scriptures contain. Make sure that you bring your Bible with you (yes I know that it's already been mentioned but that's because it's important).
• Always pray through one subject matter at a time until you all have peace in your spirits that it is time to move on to the next prayer need.
• Remember also to pray in the plural ie. "Lord we ask.....that you would grant us......in our lives"; doing so encourages others in the group to feel a part of your prayer and better able to say "Amen": remember this is a time of corporate prayer - you are praying as a group, not as individuals.
• If you are inclined to 'nod off' during prayer meetings, feel free to stand and pray or even walk about a little (as long as it doesn't disturb anyone - be sensitive).
• Try to encourage each other; build one another up and together, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, you will achieve great things in the spiritual realms.

Points to avoid

• Shopping lists. That is, a long list of prayers said by an individual. It is far better to stick to one prayer need at a time and let others join in.
• Long winded prayers. They are a sure way to quench the Spirit (and bore people). Keep them short and to the point.
• Try not to quote long passages of Scripture in your prayer, rather mention the relevant passage so that others can look it up if they need to. Short passages are alright though.
• Horizontal prayers. Those that try and teach or correct another in the group. Keep your prayers directed to the spiritual realms.
• Binding spiritual powers. Don't try and bind all spiritual powers of darkness and cast them all into the abyss for all eternity or until the judgment. I have actually heard some folks pray like this - believe me it doesn't work; if it did then we could simply bind every spirit of darkness, including the devil himself and have peace on earth for ever! God has a plan - let us listen to Him and do things His way.
  Take authority over only those spiritual forces that are relevant to the prayer topic or situation as the Holy Spirit leads.
• Punctuating every third or fourth word with 'Father' or 'Lord' should be avoided (it can really interupt the flow of the prayer) - try to speak to God in natural ways.

Additional points

• A prayer diary can be kept as a record of the group's prayer time and as an encouragement when you see prayer answered.
• Don't be surprised if someone else prays the very thing that you were going to pray; this is just a confirmation that the anointing of the Holy Spirit is upon the prayer time; just say "Amen!".
• Remember that Israel and the Jewish people, although loved by God, are still in rebellion and sin. There is much unrighteousness and injustice in Israel; so as you intercede and pray for Israel ask God to have mercy and by His grace, to not hold their sin against them.
• Personal prayer needs. Remember that you have come to pray for Israel and the Jewish people; personal prayer needs should be kept until the main prayer meeting is finished.

Starting a small prayer group

If you believe that the Lord is speaking to you about starting a small prayer group to pray for Israel, ask Him to raise up others in your area that also have a love for Israel and the Jewish people and that He would bring you together.
Regarding a meeting place, any small room that is quiet and that is located somewhere that makes it easy for everybody to get to will do. It could be in the home of one of the members of the group or in a side room of your local church or congregation building.
Once you have two or three others to join you, you can arrange to meet as often as needed. You could meet once every couple of weeks or, to begin with, perhaps just once a month (a couple of days after the prayer letter is sent out would be a good time - lots of relevant prayer material!).
It would also be a good idea to encourage others in your group to subscribe to the Intercessors prayer letter so that they too can come to the prayer meeting prepared.
If there are some in your group that do not have an internet connection then perhaps someone that does can print out a copy for them.
Do meet regularly and pray for others to be added to your group as the Lord leads. Be encouraged and persevere in His strength and provision.

Be encouraged then and may God bless you as you pray for Israel and the Jewish people.