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- Issue 733 – Verse of the Week
January 8th – January 14th 2026
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. – Isaiah 55:1
Quench Your Thirst
Science says that adult males are made up of 60 percent water, and women, 65 percent. As a general rule, a person can survive without water for about 3 days. Jesus is in Himself the Water of Life (John 4:1-26; John 7:37-39). How long can you go without Him? When you take a drink of physical water, you are satisfied for the moment. You may sip it until you drain the last drop, but you will soon be thirsty again. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you know how He fully satisfies. Pray that you may always thirst for a closer relationship with the Savior.
This special 2026 wall calendar honors two historic milestones: America’s 250th Anniversary and The Presidential Prayer Team’s 25th Year of Ministry.
Our gift to you this holiday as we remember the true reason for the season with sacred and traditional Christmas music.- Issue 733 – Federal Branches
Praying for Our Leaders in Government
Executive Branch: Pray for the President and his Administration
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deployed thousands of agents to Minneapolis, Minnesota, this week. The operation is expected to last 30 days in the Twin Cities area as federal officials visit sites suspected of fraudulently receiving taxpayer funding. The magnitude of the fraud scandal has resulted in the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services freezing all federal funds to that state. The Department of Labor is reviewing the state’s unemployment insurance program as well.
Pray for the safety of the DHS, HSI, and ICE agents as they seek to determine and detain those who have engaged in federal crimes and illegally received the funding.
Legislative Branch: Pray for Senators and Representatives in Congress
Representative Carlos Gimenez of Florida, originally a native of Cuba, spoke on how Cuba is now in a weakened position after the removal of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. “Venezuela has been supporting the Cuban regime for a long, long time,” Congressman Gimenez said. “The Cuban regime is really on its last legs as far as I see. It’s the weakest position it’s had in decades. And so now, if you lose that support from Venezuela, it makes them even weaker. And then it makes it ripe for the people of Cuba to stand up and say ‘we want change; we don’t want to continue down this path.'”
Pray for U.S. representatives and senators as they provide input and perspective on foreign nations and their relationship with one another.
PRAY FOR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES
The House Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative James Comer of Kentucky, held a hearing on Wednesday on the Minnesota fraud scandal. The panel interviewed three state representatives who had raised concerns regarding the fraud. “In addition to conducting transcribed interviews with Minnesota state officials, the House Oversight Committee will hold hearings on fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs to expose failures, identify solutions, and deliver accountability,” Chairman Comer stated. “This misconduct cannot be swept aside, and Congress will not stop until taxpayers get the answers and accountability they deserve.” The committee has invited Governor Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify in February.
Pray for the chairs and members of congressional committees as they seek to ensure federal program appropriations are properly applied by the states.
Judicial Branch: Pray for Supreme Court Justices and Federal Judges
U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Chung has blocked a request from the Department of Justice for information from Children’s Hospital Colorado. He determined that the government’s claims of violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act does not apply to sex-rejecting treatments for minors. The judge stated, “Congress has made no law authorizing an investigation of gender-affirming care, let alone one aimed at ending such care. Such an investigation, then, is no faithful execution of any law.”
Pray for wisdom for federal judges at every level of the courts as they interpret laws Congress has enacted.
Featured Leaders For Prayer
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Michael Waltz, Ambassador to the United Nations
The U.S. Ambassador to the UN said that the U.S. military operation which captured Venezuelan leader Maduro was not an act of war.
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John Fetterman, U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
Senator Fetterman said that the U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Maduro was “appropriate and surgical.”
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Judge Nancy Brasel, Minnesota U.S. District Court
Federal Judge Brasel is hearing cases addressing child nutrition program fraud in Minnesota and approved the government seizure of assets from one of the ringleaders.
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Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense
Secretary Hegseth announced that the Pentagon has initiated proceedings to reduce Senator Mark Kelly’s military retirement grade for undermining “good order and military discipline.”
As we lift up the federal government of United States of America, each day we will highlight one elected or appointed federal official serving in office. Pray with us for each of them as they tackle their unique responsibilities and fulfill their oaths of office.
TODAY’S NATIONAL LEADER FOR PRAYER
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- Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
- Born – August 1962 in Conway, South Carolina
- Education – B.A., Yale University
- Military Service – None
- Profession – Investor, hedge fund manager, professor
- Political Experience – None
- In office since – 2025
- Family – Married to John Freeman, 2 children
- Religious Affiliation – Huguenot Church
- Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury
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AMERICA’S HISTORY OF FAITH AND PRAYER
- Issue 733 – Faith and Prayer History
“We have sinned against Almighty God. We have forgotten His signal mercies, and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spirit. We have not remembered that the defenders of a just cause should be pure in His eyes; that our times are in His hands, and we have relied too much on our own arms for the achievement of our independence. … Let us humble ourselves before Him.“– General Robert E. Lee, August 21, 1863
- Issue 733 – National Prayer Needs
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The U.S. military reportedly killed 32 Cuban officers and roughly 40 Venezuelan soldiers in Operation Absolute Resolve, in which Nicolas Maduro was captured. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Cuban casualties during the American strikes were part of the security detail who guarded the dictator and his wife. Secretary Rubio stated, “He was not guarded by Venezuelan bodyguards. He had Cuban bodyguards.” No U.S. troops were killed, though seven assault force members were injured in the mission.
Pray for Secretaries Hegseth and Rubio as they collaborate on foreign policy and military missions. Pray for God’s protection over the U.S. military members deployed around the world.
Pray for America’s Foreign Relations
The United States recently facilitated security and economic talks between senior Israeli and Syrian officials in Paris. The three governments issued a joint statement noting the discussions were part of President Trump’s vision for peace in the Middle East. Separately, Israel recently recognized the sovereignty of Somaliland after the territory declared itself independent of Somalia.
France and the United Kingdom have agreed to send military forces to Ukraine if a peace agreement is reached with Russia. U.S. envoys agreed to security guarantees, in the event of a ceasefire, by a broad coalition of Ukrainian allies at a summit in Paris. Envoy Steve Witkoff said, “Those security protocols are meant to… deter any attacks, any further attacks in Ukraine, and… if there are any attacks, they’re meant to defend, and they will do both.”
Pray for President Trump and U.S. officials as they engage in peace negotiations and facilitate economic and security relations.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill, who is serving as acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, signed off on new recommendations that reduce the number of vaccinations on the childhood immunization schedule. The recommendations are similar to best practices from peer, developed countries. “After reviewing the evidence, I signed a decision memorandum accepting the assessment’s recommendations,” Acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill said. “The data support a more focused schedule that protects children from the most serious infectious diseases while improving clarity, adherence, and public confidence.”
Pray for Secretary Kennedy, Deputy Secretary O’Neill, NIH Director Bhattacharya, CMS Administrator Oz, and FDA Commissioner Makary to be discerning as they assess the best practices and scientific studies from peer nations.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The North Carolina legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto to pass a law that recognizes only two sexes in all administrative rules, regulations, and public policies to start the new year. It is the 18th state that defines and recognizes biological sex only.
States have been very active in passing laws and taking action regarding abortion. The Pennsylvania House passed an amendment last month that permits abortions up to birth and allows taxpayer dollars to fund them. The state Senate will now consider it. Florida and Texas sued the FDA last month for failing to adequately review the harms posed to women by the abortion drug, mifepristone. This week, the Wyoming Supreme Court reversed a statewide ban on abortion pills.
Pray for state officials as they debate and pass laws regarding biological sex and others that regulate abortion.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“The start of a new year has a way of waking up old pressure. Even with the best intentions, it doesn’t take long for hope to quietly turn into effort—another season of trying to be more faithful, more consistent, more ‘together.‘ And somewhere underneath it all, the question lingers: Why does it always feel heavier than it should? …
In Hebrews 8, what struck me wasn’t a new challenge—but a deep relief. God didn’t come to upgrade the old way of relating to Him. He replaced it. Not with distance or demands, but with something better than striving ever could be.
This isn’t about setting the bar higher for the year ahead. It’s about discovering what’s already been done, and how that changes the way you wake up, pray, and walk forward—without the weight of needing to prove anything. …
The Cross replaced the altars.“ – Dr. Andrew Farley, The Grace Message, “When God Replaced Religion”
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