Pray the Vote
Investigations and lawsuits over the 2020 presidential election have not gone away and are actually building momentum. Michigan and Washington state legislators are requesting investigations into concerns of fraud regarding the 2020 election, and one Pennsylvania case has already had a judge assigned to the matter.
Noncitizens who legally live in New York City will no longer be permitted to vote in city elections after the state Supreme Court struck down a law that went into effect in January. The banned measure would have given noncitizens access to the ballots beginning next year.
Pray for election workers, vote counters, and other election administrators as they work to guard the integrity of the upcoming elections.
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
Admiral John Aquino, Commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, stated that China’s military buildup is the largest in history since World War II. The Chinese military expansion encompasses all domains and all capabilities, whether naval ships, fifth-generation aircraft, missile forces, cyber capability or capability in space, and including its nuclear capability. “The concern for all Americans should be the pace, scale, and scope that China is growing,” the admiral said.
America’s military could face an armament crisis. The shortage of rare earth minerals and dependence on foreign production could result in the U.S. forces not having enough ammunition.
Pray for the leaders and troops in America’s fighting force as they seek to prepare for the defense of the nation against any foe.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
Crowds of people gathered at the Supreme Court building Monday, praying and kneeling as the United States high court announced the fate of a case of a high school football coach from Washington State. After the majority rule in favor of religious freedom, Coach Kennedy was asked how he feels about people with less popular belief systems and religions, having the same rights due to the ruling. Kennedy said, “That’s a great thing about the First Amendment. It applies to all Americans. It’s not just for one, you know, specific belief. It’s for all Americans that have any faith or no faith. … This isn’t a religious thing. This is a free exercise. This is about the freedoms of Americans and nothing to do with trying to get people to join me or make people feel weird about what I do.”
Give thanks that the Supreme Court upheld the free exercise of religion under the Bill of Rights.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Secretary General Stoltenberg said that NATO will dramatically increase the size of its high-readiness forces to well over 300,000. He stated that the move, one of a number of steps NATO is taking to adapt to a “new security reality,” helps constitute “the biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War.”
Though it could antagonize Moscow, the U.S. is hoping to persuade governments in Central Asia to work with the U.S. to fight any resurgent terrorism from Afghanistan.
Pray for the leaders of NATO nations as they invite the membership of Sweden and Finland, and whether or not to offer Ukraine an invitation as well.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas along with Representatives Jim Banks of Indiana and Doug LaMalfa of California have sponsored the Protect Minors from Medical Malpractice Act. The legislation would make medical practitioners liable for “any physical, psychological, emotional, or physiological harms” that result from gender transition procedures on minors. These include prescribing or administering puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones, or performing surgeries such as mastectomies and vaginoplasties.
The American College of Physicians has declared that inadequate access to nutrition has become a threat to public health in the U.S., amplifying existing food insecurity and social issues. They said about 10 percent of Americans experience food insecurity and more needs to be done to address the source of the problem and strengthen public health organizations.
Pray for America’s youth who are experiencing pressure to make decisions they do not have the maturity to make.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
According to information released this week, the U.S. held a secret meeting in March with top military officials from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Bahrain. The officials discussed how to counter Iran’s growing threat in the region, and explored how those countries can defend against Iran’s growing missile and drone capabilities.
The UN human rights body has concluded its investigation and reports that a Palestinian-American journalist was killed by shots fired by Israeli soldiers in early May. The Palestinian Authority has refused to conduct a joint investigation with Israel into the 51-year-old Al Jazeera journalist’s death.
Pray for Israeli leaders as they seek to protect the nation’s security. Pray for wisdom for President Biden as he prepares to meet with officials in Israel.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
Consumer sentiment has fallen to its lowest point on record, reflecting that elevated inflation is impacting Americans’ purchasing habits. This is coupled with other indicators that reveal a slowing in the world’s largest economy.
While the housing market remains competitive, economists are suggesting that indications are that the pace may begin waning in the coming months. As mortgage interest rates go up, the demand for homes decreases. At the end of June, the inventory of homes for sale was 1.25 million, a 2.6-month supply at the current sales pace.
Pray for U.S. economic officials to have discernment as they employ strategies to address rising inflation.
Pray for Justice in America
Six major U.S. cities are on their way to surpassing the record violent crime rates set in 2021. New York City has seen a 26 percent increase, while Washington, D.C. has experienced an 8 percent rise. Philadelphia and Baltimore report rates that are 7 and 6.1 percent higher, respectively. Chicago has recorded a rise of 36 percent, and Atlanta is now number 3 for the highest increase in homicides.
Pray for governing officials, law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges in cities facing increases in violent crime and lawlessness.
Pray for Goodness in America
Churches across America are talking about the big question of how to address homelessness in their communities with a small solution: tiny houses. On vacant plots near their parking lots and steepled sanctuaries, congregations are building everything from fixed and fully contained micro-homes to petite, moveable cabins, and several other styles of small-footprint dwellings. The motivation to provide shelter is rooted in their beliefs… they must care for the vulnerable, especially those without homes.
Give thanks for churches that are following Christ’s mandate to love one another, showing it through easing the distress of homelessness.
Pray for America’s Education
The director for equity and inclusion in the Poway Unified School District of California classified parents as “resistors” who disagree with her agenda, according to meeting summary notes leaked by a watchdog. The district defended her, saying equity is non-negotiable.
With massive shortages of job seekers in STEM-related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), NASA has begun developing educational programs in partnership with schools to implement robotics in the classroom. The initial partnership is in Hawaii.
Pray for education administrators, teachers, and parents as the discord regarding school priorities increases.
Pray for America’s Technology
Legislative uncertainties, particularly over potential funding provisions by Congress, have been cited by Intel for its indefinite delay of the start of construction for one of the largest microchip manufacturing plants in the U.S. Groundbreaking for the semiconductor plant had been scheduled for July 22.
Pray for leaders in the public and private sectors as both the American government and industry has needs microchips and for members of Congress regarding the funding of domestic manufacturing.
Pray for Needs Across the States
A Pennsylvania Senate committee advanced two bills that have drawn comparisons to Florida’s “parental rights” law, which would limit discussions of gender and sexual identity in the classroom for certain grade levels. Governor Tom Wolf said that should the bills reach his desk he will veto them.
The Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction said he is willing to risk losing $50 million in federal money for school lunches by opposing a policy established by President Biden’s administration that mandates non-discrimination. The policy includes new provisions for “gender identity and sexual orientation,” violations of which could result in the loss of millions in federal lunch dollars. He said, “I immediately oppose this action in the strongest terms possible on legal, political, and moral grounds.”
Pray for state legislators and governors who are seeking to protect the rights of parents when it comes to the physical, emotional, and educational health of their children.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Freedom is at the very heart of the gospel and of godly living. It is not a side benefit or an adjunct to the Christian life. God has called all believers to freedom. To what are we called: we are called to liberty. The Christian is free. Free from the guilt of sin because the believer has experienced God’s forgiveness. The believer is free from the penalty of sin because Christ died for the believer on the cross. And the believer is, through the Spirit, free from the power of sin in daily life.” – Warren Wiersbe, Bible Exposition Commentary, 1996
