December 17th – December 23rd, 2020
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged American universities to shield themselves against infiltration by China saying the CCP security services are pressuring and recruiting Chinese academics and students as spies, calling China “the central threat of our time.”
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said teachers are failing American students amid the coronavirus pandemic, calling out the teachers’ union, and saying there is “no excuse” for not having students back in school.
Pray for President Trump, his Cabinet, and others, as they deal with issues surrounding American education.
PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii introduced a bill that would specify that Title IX protections are applied based on a person’s biological sex, meaning transgender athletes who were determined to be males at birth would be barred from participating in women’s sports.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois suggested that partisan lawmakers likely stalled on another COVID-relief package “because an election was coming” and in those “pre-election days” political sentiments were very difficult.
Pray that Congress will act to avoid another government shutdown, and for their action on another COVID relief and stimulus bill.
PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY
The Supreme Court says Muslims placed on no-fly lists can sue FBI agents for damages under the protections of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, according to Justice Clarence Thomas who wrote for the Court’s unanimous opinion.
A California judge issued a ruling that said Los Angeles County acted “arbitrarily” and without rational justification when it banned outdoor dining, saying the order was “not grounded in science, evidence or logic, and should be adjudicated to be unenforceable as a matter of law.”
Pray for America’s judges as they rule on matters of personal freedoms and government overreach.
CURRENT EVENTS
WARS AND TERRORISM
A television anchor was shot and killed in Afghanistan as she left her house. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on her, although Islamic State and the Taliban are both active in that region.
The U.S. military in Afghanistan rejected as “one-sided” a report that found civilian casualties caused by American and coalition airstrikes soared after Washington relaxed its rules of engagement, saying their data “ignores civilian casualties caused by the Taliban and ISIS.”
Pray for officials in Afghanistan during the coming U.S. troop drawdown and that the Taliban would live up to its agreements.
FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS
The U.S. Senate failed to block the sale of top-of-the-line fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates in one of the largest arms deals from the Trump Administration that also involves drones and other weapons.
The UN Secretary General is urging Iran to address concerns raised about its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and return to “full implementation” of its 2015 nuclear deal with major powers while expressing regret that the Trump Administration withdrew from the agreement.
Pray for the region as decisions made by the president’s administration play out in the Middle East.
ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST
Israel will be the first country to issue a “green passport” to residents who have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The passport will lift some restrictions, including mandatory quarantine following exposure to an infected person, and offer access to cultural events and restaurants.
Israeli officials announced the launch of the Beresheet 2 Project to send a second Israeli spacecraft to the moon in about four years. Their first attempt to land a craft safely on the moon was unsuccessful 18 months ago.
Pray for the government of Israel and its support of scientists and researchers on COVID-19 and their space endeavors.
THE ECONOMY
Housing for middle-income families is growing scarcer than ever, particularly in large coastal cities, as the wealthy bid up properties that might once have been considered “affordable,” widening the gap between upper and middle classes.
The number of job openings in the U.S. edged downward in the first week of December, a sign of a softening labor market amid a surge in coronavirus infections and more business shutdowns.
Pray for America’s economy and the threats to individuals of eviction or other housing challenges from loss of income during the pandemic.
ACROSS THE STATES
Police in South Dakota filed a lawsuit to overturn a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution that legalized marijuana alleging the initiative was flawed and done improperly.
A recent grant awarded to the Idaho state police’s forensic services will allow the agency to examine more than 50 cold cases in hopes of finally bringing justice and closure to the victims.
Pray for government support of law enforcement, and for law enforcement officers and the challenges they face.
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. – Isaiah 7:14
