Pray the Vote
A federal appeals court ordered the reinstatement of the congressional map signed by Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, staying a lower court’s order while the state’s appeal continues.
A federal restriction on candidates using political contributions after an election to recoup personal loans made to their campaign was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The ruling was in favor of Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and weakens campaign finance regulations.
Pray for courts and legislatures still working out important state redistricting issues.
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
General Mark Milley warned cadets graduating from West Point about the future of war during the commencement ceremony. He said international conflicts will only increase amid Ukraine’s conflict with Russia and the president’s recent deployment of troops to Somalia. “We are challenged in every domain and service: space, cyber, maritime, air, and of course, land,” he said.
The State Department is making it more difficult for federal employees who travel overseas with their military spouses to retain their jobs. The change also affects the federally-employed spouses of government workers assigned to overseas posts. It is unclear why the State Department has tightened restrictions on those working overseas.
Pray for military personnel and their families as they face the many issues that confront them at home or abroad.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
The World Health Organization’s 75th World Health Assembly is underway in Geneva, Switzerland, and new amendments to WHO’s International Health Regulations are under consideration. Widespread concerns have been expressed about the amendments possibly handing U.S. national sovereignty over matters of health to the WHO.
Pray for U.S. administration officials to be discerning over whether or not to accept the proposed amendments to the World Health Organization’s regulations.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
President Joe Biden said the United States would respond militarily if China invaded Taiwan. “That’s the commitment we’ve made,” he said during a news conference with the Japanese Prime Minister when a reporter asked if the U.S. would get involved if Taiwan were attacked by China.
Russia announced its intent to halt natural gas exports to Finland after the country refused to make its payments in rubles, making it the third country to be cut off from the Kremlin’s supply. The move comes days after both Finland and Sweden made application to join NATO, a move supported by President Biden’s administration.
Pray for those charged with America’s national security to be vigilant both in Eastern Europe and in Asia, as both Russia and China seek to expand their global roles.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated data recommending that Americans who live in living in areas experiencing a surge in COVID cases should consider masking indoors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is looking into 180 cases of unexplained pediatric hepatitis that were reported over the past seven months. The number is 71 cases higher than what was reported earlier this month.
Pray for wisdom for U.S. health officials and for investigators to determine the cause of the hepatitis outbreak among children.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
In a near-unprecedented decision, the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ruled in favor of three Jewish teenagers who were temporarily banned from the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem after they bowed down and recited the “Shema Israel” prayer at the flashpoint site. By praying there, the teenagers violated a longstanding but informal arrangement known as the status quo, which declares that Jews are allowed to visit the site but not pray there. The Shema Israel prayer is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one.”
Israel and Morocco have been engaging in increased business collaboration since December 2020, when the Israel-Morocco normalization agreement was signed, opening a world of opportunities between the two nations from direct flights to economic cooperation and innovation collaboration.
Pray for Israel’s government leaders to be wise and remain strong in the face of both local and international threats.,
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
This year’s Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) is not nearly enough to help boost seniors’ purchasing power. According to data from The Senior Citizens League, high inflation has caused Social Security beneficiaries to actually lose 40 percent of their buying power since the year 2000.
Home sales fell for the third consecutive month in April as rising mortgage rates and affordability challenges pushed many would-be home buyers out of the market. Prices still continued to climb, reaching an all-time high.
Pray for those in leadership to “get a handle” on inflation, and for American seniors who face additional struggles with their household budgets.
Pray for Justice in America
The city council of Haven, Kansas, voted 3-2 to reverse a unanimous decision they made on May 2 to remove “In God We Trust” decals from the city’s police cars, following an uproar from some in the community.
Give thanks for the community officials’ decision to heed citizens’ call for the faith motto to remain.
Pray for Goodness in America
Members of the minority in the Senate are opposing a House-passed bill that would authorize special offices within the government to investigate and monitor domestic terrorism. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley said of the House bill, “It’s like the disinformation board on steroids. Another way to look at is the Patriot Act for Americans.”
Pray for members of Congress as they consider legislation that would allow monitoring of phone and email conversations and collecting bank records of Americans designated as domestic terrorists.
Pray for America’s Media
Bipartisan legislation has been introduced that would address conflicts of interest in the online ads industry and would strike at the heart of Google’s business model, forcing the search company to break up its dominant digital advertising business.
Pray for governing officials as they address the power held by the large technology companies and how they use it.
Pray for America’s Education
A Virginia circuit court judge declared two books to contain material obscene for children for their graphic content and they are to be removed from the school system.
Pray that America’s parents and school officials would protect school children from attempts to interfere with them on sexual or gender matters.
Pray for America’s Technology
Hydrogen is being studied and produced as a non-carbon-emitting fuel, with the idea that it can substitute for petroleum-based gasoline as a measure to combat global warming. Congress has established an $8 billion Department of Energy fund to create regional hubs to produce and distribute hydrogen as a fuel, and at least 80 proposals have been sent to the Energy Department so far.
Pray for the leaders of industry who are seeking ways to improve the environment and reduce greenhouse gases.
Pray for Needs Across the States
A special commission charged with reevaluating Massachusetts’ state seal and motto voted unanimously to recommend that both be completely replaced. The current seal, dating from 1898, depicts a Native American holding a bow and arrow and standing beneath an arm (purportedly that of colonial military leader Myles Standish) holding a sword poised as if to strike. The motto, in Latin, translated says, “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.” The commission has until the end of the year to make its recommendations.
About 1 in 20 residents in Arkansas were missed during the 2020 census, according to figures from a survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The undercounts are significant in that they could shortchange the state of federal funding in the current decade.
Pray for state leaders as they consider matters that impact their residents and the representation of constituents.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Those who are closest to God are those who are most humble. … Do you understand this God that we pray to? When people were close to God, they were not proud. So whenever I see pride in my life, the answer to that is not ‘OK, let me try to be more humble.’ No. ‘Let me try to get closer to God.’ Because when I’m in the presence of God, there is not going to be pride there.” – Francis Chan, Cornerstone Church, Simi Valley, California, May 2022