September 3rd – September 9th, 2020
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is rolling out a free smartphone app that alerts drivers to newly announced vehicle recalls, allowing owners to scan or type in their VIN to search the database for recall information.
Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said President Trump would sign a coronavirus relief package totaling $1.3 trillion, an increase over the $1.1 trillion proposed by some in the Senate, but less than the $2.2 trillion “required” by Speaker Pelosi.
Pray that negotiations over the coronavirus relief package would resume soon.
PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
The House Foreign Affairs Committee announced contempt proceedings against Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, citing his refusal to comply with a subpoena for records into his “transparently political misuse” of department resources.
Some lawmakers in the Senate are pressing Defense Secretary Mark Esper over concerns about the Pentagon’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reported rise of cases among service members in July.
Pray for members of the House and Senate and their Constitutional obligation to oversee the activities of the Executive Department.
PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY
A U.S. District judge in California has blocked Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ effort to send more pandemic relief funding to private schools, saying she lacks the authority to order her own conditions on relief funding for K-12 schools.
The Eastern New York U.S. District Court permanently barred two individuals and two companies responsible for facilitating hundreds of millions of fraudulent robocalls from making or conveying any calls in the U.S. system.
Pray that the rulings of district court judges would follow the law and be in the best interest of American citizens.
CURRENT EVENTS
WARS AND TERRORISM
The U.S. says its military killed six al-Shabab extremists with an airstrike in Somalia after the al Qaeda-linked group attacked Somali forces while American forces were nearby. Three other al-Shabab fighters were wounded.
Four U.S. service members were diagnosed with mild concussion-like symptoms after an altercation with Russian forces in Syria. Videos revealed a Russian vehicle ramming an American vehicle, and a Russian helicopter flying low over U.S. forces.
Pray for the U.S. military as they face increased Russian surveillance, and that all-out conflict may be avoided.
FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS
Philippine President Rodrigo Duerte warned Beijing that any violent encounter between China and the Philippines, such as an attack on a Filipino naval vessel, would trigger a confrontation with the United States. “I will call up Washington, D.C.,“ he said.
Nigeria is facing a serious threat from Islamic terrorist groups as militant Muslims wage an insurgency to overthrow the government and rid that nation of Christians, who make up half the country’s population, or force them to convert to Islam.
Pray for Christians around the globe who are facing persecution, even some who face harassment for their faith within the U.S.
ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Israel claims Turkey is granting citizenship and giving passports to Hamas members in a direct support of the terror group that goes back years, allowing terrorists to travel freely and easily around the world using their Turkish passports.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to further cool relations with China and limit Chinese investments in Israel because of the new strategic partnership agreement China signed with Iran.
Pray for Israel as they address the increasing influence of Iran in the region.
THE ECONOMY
Twenty-three states have taken advantage of the additional $300 in unemployment benefits approved by the president in an executive order in August, after a $600 expanded weekly benefit package expired in July.
Consumer spending increased more than expected in July, boosting expectations for a sharp rebound in economic growth in the third quarter, though momentum could ebb as the pandemic lingers and money from the government runs out.
Continue in prayer for Americans who are out of work due to coronavirus-related problems, and for the financial relief they need.
ACROSS THE STATES
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan urged all schools in the state to plan some in-person instruction this fall saying “there is no substitute for in-person instruction” and “it doesn’t make any sense” to not return students to the classroom.
New Mexico’s Public Education Department laid out a plan for reopening schools for in-person learning after Labor Day including contingencies for when someone in the classroom tests positive for COVID-19.
Pray for the nation’s governors, educators and other decision-makers as they determine the best ways to reintroduce in-person learning to students.
VERSE OF THE WEEK
You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. – Isaiah 26:3
