Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
Officials at the Kings Port, New York, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy have covered up a large painting of Jesus after a complaint from an advocacy group that calls itself the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. The painting showed Jesus walking on the water toward the boat filled with his disciples and was hung in Wiley Hall, a student gathering place.
An American SEAL team has killed a senior facilitator for ISIS and ten other ISIS operatives in Somalia, part of the U.S. Africa Command. According to officials, the American forces had intended only to capture the ISIS leader, however, a “hostile force’s response” resulted in his death. There were no casualties on the U.S. side, although one U.S. service member was injured during the operation, having been bitten by an American K-9.
Pray for America’s military members’ safety and morale.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Russia responded to President Biden’s decision to send Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine, calling it “direct involvement in the conflict.” However, a press official with the Kremlin backtracked, stating the sending of weapons system to Ukraine by European capitals and Washington “in no way signifies the involvement of these countries or the alliance in hostilities in Ukraine.”
The chancellor of Germany has warned against an arms race as more NATO members furnish additional armaments to Ukraine, and Ukraine’s president calls for more tanks, long-range missiles, and fighter jets. President Biden has insisted that providing tanks is “not an offensive threat” to Russia.
Pray for American military contractors to be able to resupply the U.S. weapons stockpile after so much has been sent to Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
A student in a Mississippi school district will now be allowed to wear a “Jesus Loves Me” mask to school after a lawsuit filed against the school district was settled and the lawsuit dismissed. An attorney for the student said, “Today’s students will be tomorrow’s legislators, judges, educators, and voters. That’s why it’s so important that public schools demonstrate the First Amendment values they are supposed to be teaching to students.”
Give thanks for each victory for religious freedom in America.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
At a meeting of the World Trade Organization, China was critical of the United States after the U.S. lodged an appeal of a recent ruling by the WTO that found U.S. metal tariffs breached global rules.
The Chinese government has warned House Speaker Kevin McCarthy against making a planned visit to Taiwan. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said, “We urge certain individuals in the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle,” referring to the belief that Taiwan is part of China.
Pray for wisdom for the president and secretary of state as the relationship between the U.S. and China deteriorates.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
A new report from the New York State Insurance Fund, which analyzed more than 3,000 workers’ compensation claims, found that 31 percent of claimants were suffering from Long COVID. The report showed 70 percent of that group was unable to return to work because of “disruptive” symptoms, including shortness of breath and fatigue that would prevent them from being as productive as they might otherwise be.
The University of British Columbia issued a new study on the adverse effects of traffic pollution on brain function. The study says exposure to diesel exhaust for just two hours creates a significant plunge in the ability of different areas of the brain to communicate with each other, affecting memory and internal thought processes.
Pray for U.S. health officials as they assess the long-term effects of the COVID virus and also of the vaccines.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Retaliatory missile strikes were launched into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip after the deaths of at least nine terrorists in an Israeli raid on a refugee settlement in the West Bank. However, all five missiles were intercepted in the air or fell into an empty area, with no injuries or damages reported.
The Palestinian Authority press agency reported that CIA Director William Burns met with President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the “dangerous developments and the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.” The Jerusalem Post said, “It was not clear whether Burns urged the Palestinians to resume the security coordination with Israel or take other measures to de-escalate the situation.”
Pray for Israeli and Palestinian leaders as they endeavor to address the “generations of hate” that have been bred into Palestinian youth.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
The Department of Labor reports that consumer prices have begun to plateau after hitting a ten-year high last June. Officials say the 40-year high inflation levels returned to a more normal growth rate in the second half of 2022.
According to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac, interest rates for long-term, 30-year mortgages fell to their lowest level in more than four months, down to 6.13 percent. However, they remain higher than a year ago when the average rate was 3.55 percent.
Pray for economic officials as they evaluate the many influences on inflationary prices and actions that could potentially avoid a recession.
Pray for Justice in America
The Department of Justice announced the indictment of two Florida women for attacks on pregnancy resource centers. It is the first known indictment since May 2022 when a wave of attacks on pro-life centers began. The 27- and 23-year-old women are alleged to have used threats of force to intimidate employees and interfere with the health services offered by the facility in violation of federal law.
Pray that Justice Department prosecutors would pursue attackers and vandals regardless of political affiliation or ideation.
Pray for America’s Education
The Students First Act has been signed into law in Iowa which allows each student, at any school, to use the sum allocated on a per-child basis in schools of the families’ choosing. For the current fiscal year, that educational savings account amount is $7,698 per child.
A group of parents in Wisconsin have sued a school district over its “Gender Support Plan” they allege hides the status of a transgender student from the parents. The lawsuit states, “A preemptive lawsuit is the only way to prevent lifelong harm to minors and preserve parents’ constitutional rights.” The same school district put students in elementary grades through a weeklong gender identity and sexual orientation lesson as part of their “Health and Social Emotional Learning Lessons.”
Pray for state legislatures and school officials as school choice programs are implemented.
Pray for America’s Technology
According to the FBI, a group associated with North Korea was responsible for a $100 million hack of cryptocurrency from a California-based digital currency company. The FBI says North Korea used to support its production of weapons of mass destruction, including ballistic missiles.
Pray for U.S. and allies’ hardware and software engineers as they continue to try to get ahead of state-sponsored hackers.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The Supreme Court of Vermont ruled that noncitizen residents in Montpelier, the state capital, may continue voting in municipal elections. The state supreme court wrote, “The statute allowing noncitizens to vote in local Montpelier elections does not violate Chapter II, § 42 because that constitutional provision does not apply to local elections.”
Pray for state governments as they endeavor to balance public protection with perceived individual rights.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“You have the privilege of praying to a loving, understanding Father, who knows your condition. He guides you through difficulty to victory. When your faith, hope, and love are fixed on the Lord, you can face any difficulty or problem, and God will give you joy and peace within.” – Warren Wiersbe, from Prayer, Praise & Promises: A Daily Walk Through the Psalms
