Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The Army unveiled its new armored personnel carrier, that “offers soldiers better protection and survivability… and is a major milestone that could not have been accomplished without the entire Army and industry team.” It replaces the M13 which has been part of the Army for more than 60 years.
The U.S. and the Philippines are scheduled to hold the largest-ever joint military exercises next month. A total of 17,680 soldiers will participate. There will be amphibious landings on an island in the west as well. A contingent of Australians will also take part in the drills scheduled for April 11-26.
Pray for military leaders in the U.S. and allies as they head the massive drills.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Poland has become the first NATO nation to fulfill Kyiv’s request by providing four of its MIG-29 fighter jets to the Ukrainian military. The Ukrainian Air Force reportedly already operates the MIG jets, so additional training by the Polish military will not be required. Slovenia has also said it would send 13 of its MIG-29s to Ukraine.
Israel has given its support to providing anti-drone jamming systems for Ukraine, overcoming concerns that Russia might react to the provision of defense equipment to Ukraine. But the Ukrainian government intensified its pressure for military assistance and the equipment’s potential sale has been approved.
Pray for the leaders of the nations as they increase support and provisions to the Ukrainian military.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
Governors from 19 states announced an alliance to stand against the growth of ESG “rules” for investing. They stated, “We as freedom-loving states can work together and leverage our state pension funds to force change in how major asset managers invest the money of hardworking Americans, ensuring corporations are focused on maximizing shareholder value, rather than the proliferation of woke ideology.”
Pray for U.S. officials and investment managers as political pressure increases regarding investment priorities.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
President Xi Jinping of China gave a show of support to Russian President Vladimir Putin when Xi visited Moscow this week. Xi continues to present China as having a broad role globally.
Turkey and Hungary have agreed they will approve NATO membership for Finland. Turkish President Erdogan said, “We have decided to initiate the ratification process in our parliament.” Their holdout was a barrier to Finland’s joining the alliance that left Sweden’s application for membership in limbo.
Pray for administration officials as they take action in response to the deepening alliance between China and Russia.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nonprofit hospitals received almost $28 billion in tax exemptions from state, local and federal sources, while providing only about $16 billion in “charity” care. This may bring their nonprofit status into question as federal law requires nonprofits to offer a certain ratio of free care in exchange for their tax-exempt status.
A study reported in the Journal of British Medicine, conducted across three separate universities, showed that there are benefits to consuming caffeine, such as helping to curb body fat and reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They used genetic testing to study the metabolizing of caffeine. The FDA says that 400 milligrams of caffeine per day-about four or five cups of coffee—is a safe amount.
Pray for hospital administrators as they deal with staffing problems while also addressing the needs of “charity” patients and government regulations.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
A spokesperson for the military branch of Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian terrorist organization, called on Arabs in Israel to join in the fight against Israel. “We call on all the fighters of our people and the free people in the West Bank and in Israel to mobilize for this war, so that there will be an overall intifada that will create the basis for the end of our enemy and its expulsion from all of Palestine,” Abu Hamza said.
As Holy Week will soon be here and Ramadan begins later this week, officials of both Israel and Palestine, meeting for talks in Egypt, agreed to establish a mechanism that would help to curb violence and incitement. They have stressed the need to prevent disruptive actions at holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel also pledged to halt the discussion of new settlement units for the next four months.
Pray for peace in Jerusalem and all Israel during the holiday seasons and beyond.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
After a rise in purchasing in January, reports on retail sales for February show they are half a percentage point down. Retail sales were also down in November and December, despite holiday purchases. Reports say that January numbers were helped by an increase in auto sales.
U.S. homebuilder confidence rose last month as new home starts were up 9.8 percent from January, although demand for housing has fallen from a year ago. Housing activity still remains slightly above pre-pandemic levels.
Pray for U.S. economists as they evaluate the volatility of the U.S. economic environment.
Pray for Justice in America
The Justice Department is investigating the owner of TikTok, ByteDance, over possibly spying on journalists, saying employees of TikTok inappropriately obtained data on Americans, particularly journalists who cover the tech industry. The DOJ’s criminal division, the FBI, and the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia are part of the group of investigators.
Pray for U.S. governing officials as they consider a total U.S. ban on TikTok, even though it is a popular app.
Pray for Goodness in America
An American missionary pilot with the Mission Aviation Fellowship and two other men were released from jail in Mozambique after being detained for more than four months on suspicion of giving support to insurgents in the war-torn nation. Although released, they are being required to remain in Mozambique as the case against them is still pending.
Pray for this missionary pilot, his colleagues, and others who are bringing the Gospel to people around the world, who are often detained for unsubstantiated reasons.
Pray for America’s Education
A Christian school in Vermont has been banned from the district sports league after the girls’ basketball team forfeited a game against a team who had among its players a male student who claimed to be transgender. The school’s headmaster said they withdrew “because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players,” adding, “allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”
The Arizona Department of Education has established an “Empower Hotline” where parents can report public school educators “who are teaching students critical race theory, gender ideology, and other inappropriate issues.”
Pray for parents, students, teachers, and school administrators who are willing to take a stand for what they believe is Biblical and moral.
Pray for America’s Technology
Government-sponsored hackers out of China are finding ways to get around cybersecurity tools, allowing them to get into government and company networks and spy on people. They have reportedly been doing so for several years without detection.
Pray for software engineers who are working to stay one step ahead of hackers to find greater success.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The House of Representatives in Kansas passed legislation that would create vouchers for students providing a narrow victory for school choice. The bill passed the Kansas Senate last month before being modified to include savings accounts rather than tax credits, so it goes back to the Senate for reconsideration.
In strong support of labor unions, the Senate in Michigan voted to repeal a decades-old “right-to-work law.” A similar version of the law was passed in the House, and the two laws must now be reconciled so that the final language can go to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has said she will sign it.
Pray for the legislative members of states as they endeavor to do what they feel is right for their state’s population.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Something’s happening. God is on the move. I’m so glad that I’m alive to get to see it. … I think what we’ve prayed for so long is actually happening. … There’s this resurgence of faith. … It’s happening! Something has shifted. So many of us have prayed for this for so very long. Let it be so! “ – Michael W. Smith, singer, and songwriter, responding to college revivals, March 2023
