Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command held a ceremony in which Admiral Samuel Paparo, previously commander of the Pacific Fleet, assumed command from Admiral John Aquilino. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “This command’s mission is at the heart of American security in the 21st century. Every day, Indo-Pacific Command keeps the watch in our priority theater of operations.”
Pray for Admiral Paparo and other military leaders to be prudent as they head U.S. commands around the globe.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that Ukraine is planning to launch a counteroffensive next year against Russia. Aid from the U.S. and other Western nations will support the effort.
Pray for U.S. legislators and military leaders to be discerning as they continue to send aid to Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
CIA Director William Burns and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani participated in negotiations for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The length of the proposed cease-fire is currently being debated.
Pray for wisdom for U.S., Israeli, and Arab leaders as they pursue an agreement to exchange hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that maternal mortality rates dropped between 2021 and 2022. The agency also released data showing that cases of sexually transmitted diseases are increasing, with half the infections being contracted by those between 15 and 25.
Pray for U.S. health officials and researchers as they seek methods to safeguard public health.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the jobs report for April, showing that 175,000 were added to the U.S. economy. That hiring rate is the lowest since October 2023, and unemployment increased to 3.9 percent.
Pray for Acting Labor Secretary Su and BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer as they seek to support employment in the nation.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed legislation that allows teachers and administrators to be armed on school property. He also signed the Protecting Children from Social Media Act which requires parental permission for minors to access social media and makes companies verify account holders’ ages.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has ordered an investigation into the state’s Medicaid office providing voter registration information to refugees and noncitizens as part of the benefit application package. SC Health and Human Service officials claimed that they were required to provide the information under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
Pray for state governors and legislators to be prudent as they consider legislation that addresses the safety of children or seeks to ensure the integrity of elections.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Back in the late 1960s after I was released from rehabilitation, my sister Jay invited me to live with her in her farmhouse out in the rolling hills of Maryland. The stone and wood house itself was quite old and its interior structure included part of an old log cabin whose wood dated back to the late 1800s. With such old timbers, there was the chance of termites. Now, the first year or two I lived there… we only spotted just a few. We considered calling an exterminator but decided to save the expense and use a can of bug spray – bad idea. And we paid for it the following year. The termites came back and brought all their third cousins.
You see, compromise in little things will lead to a greater downfall. It’s why the second chapter of the Song of Solomon says, ‘Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.‘ Now, every vine keeper will be on guard against foxes, but Solomon tells us to be aware of the ‘little foxes.‘ Small foxes. The kind that can sneak in- between the stones of a vineyard wall where a big fox might not be able to.
And that’s a good way to describe the dangers of sin. As Christians, we’ re usually on guard against the big “foxes,” … But it’s the minor, it’s the incidental little-fox sins that we tend to ignore, or even trivialize. …
When you compromise on small things, it can lead to big spiritual problems. Don’t allow little foxes to spoil the fruitful vine that God is maturing in your life.“ – Joni Eareckson Tada, Sharing Hope, May 2024
