Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo that, while military chaplains will retain their ranks, they will no longer identify their rank alongside symbols of their religion in uniform. Secretary Hegesth said the change “speaks to the difficult balance of the duality of a military chaplain. A chaplain is first and foremost a chaplain and an officer second. This change is a visual representation of that fact.” He added that the removal of their rank will allow chaplains to “be seen among the highest ranks because of their divine calling.”
Pray for the defense secretary as he updates policies regarding religion and religious expression in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Pray for America’s Foreign Relations
Secretary Rubio announced the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had recently been abducted near Baghdad by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kata’ib Hizballah. A video recording had shown men forcing the U.S. citizen, a Wisconsin native who had resided in the Middle East for many years, into a car before driving off. Kittleson had previously been warned by State Department officials of threats to her safety.
Israel has opened the Rafah crossing that connects Gaza to Egypt as part of the U.S.-brokered peace agreement. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society recently evacuated dozens of Palestinians in need of medical care in conjunction with the World Health Organization, as Israel keeps the crossing under strict security.
Pray for prudence for U.S. and allied officials as they seek to improve security in the Middle East. Pray for Americans to be discerning and to adhere to warnings from the U.S. government.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall of more than 100,000 bottles of Metoprolol last month. The manufacturer, Vivus LLC, initiated the recall of specific lots of metoprolol succinate extended-release due to concerns of contamination. The FDA has listed affected lot numbers for the blood pressure and heart medication on its website for reference against the prescription labels.
For Commissioner Makary and FDA officials as they seek to ensure the safety of medication available to the American public.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Utah Governor Spencer Cox vetoed a bill from the state legislature that would allow Wi-Fi on school buses. The bill was couched as a benefit to assist rural students in completing homework on the long bus ride home. The governor wrote, “I recognize the added challenge of longer bus rides for rural students. But I am very concerned about signaling to our students that we value more time spent on devices rather than more time interacting with one another face-to-face. Our kids simply need less screen time and more human connection.”
Florida State Attorney General James Ethmeier requested that State House Speaker Danial Perez begin impeachment proceedings against a state judge who released a convicted pedophile from custody before his sentencing. The man abused and killed his five-year-old stepdaughter while out on bond. Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed “Missy’s Law,” named for the little girl, requiring judges to revoke the bonds of those who are convicted of sexual and violent crimes.
Pray for governors, state attorneys general, and members of their legislatures as they assess measure to improve public safety.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“People today don’t like to talk about death. In fact, it seems there is a concerted effort to deny the reality of death. For example, unlike previous generations, children are now excluded from many traditional activities involved with the death process. They usually aren’t allowed at deathbed scenes or even at funerals. Why are people so reticent to talk about death? I think it is because death represents the ultimate defeat. The open casket reminds us of the limitations of science and technology. The open grave reminds us of the futility of all life’s accomplishments. …
Let’s look at the story in John 11 of Jesus raising His friend Lazarus from the dead. I want to point out something that may seem obvious: In order for Lazarus to rise from the dead, he had to die in the first place. Death was part of God’s plan for Lazarus, and it is also part of His plan for every one of us. Have you come to terms with the fact that God’s plan for your life is that you will die one day? Except for the generation that will be alive at the rapture of the church, no one is going to get out of this world alive. … We have a hard time accepting that. Americans spend billions of dollars a year trying to slow the aging process through exercise, supplements, and other treatments. Yes, we ought to be good stewards of our physical bodies. But those things won’t keep us from dying someday. … However, death is not our ultimate destiny. The story of Lazarus reminds us of the universality of death, but it also points to the victory over death we have through Jesus Christ.“ – Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pathway to Victory, “A Tale from the Crypt”
