Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The Defense Department has resumed its diversity training efforts covering subjects like race theory and white privilege in accordance with an executive order issued by the president.
Admiral Phil Davidson, Commander of the Indo-Pacific, referenced a Chinese Air Force propaganda video when making his case before senators about the urgent need to build a missile-defense system in Guam. “Guam is a target today. It needs to be defended,” he said, adding that he needs $1.65 billion over five years to fund an Aegis Ashore radar and missile defense system on the American territory.
The U.S. Coast Guard has become increasingly active in the Western Pacific as Chinese fishing fleets expand into new waters among some Pacific island nations and near to Guam. A Coast Guard crew recently boarded a group of Chinese boats to help seize tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of sea cucumber that had allegedly been harvested illegally.
Pray for the leaders of America’s military and for U.S. troops, sailors, and pilots.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, known as the PRO Act, would amend some of the country’s decades-old labor laws to promote union organizing and weaken right-to-work laws. The Chamber of Commerce and some legislators claim the plan would hamstring the economy.
Pray for government officials seeking to protect right-to-work freedoms offered in many states across the nation.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
The National People’s Congress in China passed a law barring candidates who are not endorsed by Beijing to run for Hong Kong’s city legislature, all but ending that city’s democracy. Opposition groups would be squeezed out of elected office as only Beijing loyalists, “Patriots Only,” could be part of an election.
A new study released by the United Nations shows world powers bear responsibility for ignoring crimes against humanity that may still be perpetuated by authorities in North Korea. In the midst of the international focus on the DPRK’s nuclear program, there is concern that humans rights issues are being overlooked. The report said the violations are “grave” and asked the UN Security Council to refer them to the International Criminal Court for prosecution.
Pray for diplomats advocating for the people living in nations under oppressive Communist rule.
Pray For AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Dr. Anthony Fauci said that authorities were considering cutting social distancing rules to three feet, a move that would change a key tenet of the global fight against COVID, calling a three-foot separation “sufficient.” New findings suggest the rule change could come “soon,” he said.
Twenty rural hospitals shut their doors last year likely due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CEO of the National Rural Health Association said, “There were tough financial headwinds for the rural hospitals prior to the pandemic. Did the pandemic exacerbate an already difficult situation? Absolutely.”
Pray for those in authority among the nation’s health care industry and regulators.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled a landmark visit to the United Arab Emirates as a dispute with neighboring Jordan widened when Jordan’s crown prince canceled a visit to the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem “to prevent Israel from undermining his first such trip to the holy site.” Jordan is the custodian of the mosque.
Israel is urging the White House to host an official ceremony marking the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Sudan, part of the Abraham Accords. Sudan has said it wants an endorsement from the current administration for establishing diplomatic relations.
Pray for the president’s administration as they make decisions and take actions related to America’s relationship with Israel.
Pray for THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
Soaring housing prices are starting to concern policymakers, who fear the market could lock a generation of would-be buyers out of home ownership. Home prices were up 14 percent in January over the same month in the prior year, while sales jumped 24 percent, despite an unemployment rate that was almost twice as high.
Consumer prices increased strongly in February—the largest annual gain in nearly 2-1/2 years—but an adequate amount of slack in the labor market could make it more difficult for businesses to pass on the higher costs to consumers while the pandemic continues.
Pray for government officials tracking the potential for inflation as the economy begins to “normalize” following COVID-19.
Pray for Justice in America
To promote “fairness” in women’s sports, the South Dakota legislature passed a bill that would ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports. However, some are concerned that the legislation could lead to unintended consequences, such as the NCAA barring the state from hosting tournaments or legal challenges that could result in requirements for certification of eligibility to participate in girls’ sports.
Pray for the public servants tasked with navigating the issue of transgenderism, particularly as it relates to women’s sports.
Pray for Goodness in America
Volunteers with a nonprofit group that helps veterans and their families in California built a wheelchair ramp for a disabled Coast Guard veteran who had been unable to leave his home for over two years. “It was great to go out, get some sun, go check my mail,” he said after the life-changing gesture.
Give thanks for volunteer groups who look after others, and pray for opportunities to do good for others yourself.
Pray for America’s Media
Lawmakers re-introduced legislation to allow news organizations to band together to negotiate with technology companies regarding payment for content and the data the companies have about readers. The legislation has bipartisan support as part of antitrust reforms that follow a 16-month investigation into claims that tech companies have squashed competition.
Author Matthew Hennessey recently wrote about the “cancel culture.” In a recent interview, he said social media censorship should really be debated. He also stated, “When we start down the road of policing speech that we don’t like, we’re going down a very dark road indeed. We have a chance to turn the tide. If we don’t, I’m afraid things are going to get real ugly in 10 or 20 years’ time, and we may not recognize the country we grew up in.”
Pray for those who are trying to protect America’s foundational freedoms such as the freedom of speech and expression.
Pray for America’s Education
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called for a taxpayer-funded bailout for all student debts up to $50,000, and is pushing the president to issue an executive order to cancel those debts that the senator says affect more than 43 million Americans. “A crisis of this magnitude requires bold action,” he said.
A new Gallup poll revealed that American parents overwhelmingly want schools to reopen, with 79 percent wanting that to happen immediately. In another part of the survey, parents overwhelmingly disagreed with the claim by teachers’ unions that they “just want school teachers as babysitters.”
Pray for God’s purpose to be fulfilled for the education system of the United States.
Pray for America’s Technology
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are discussing a need to strengthen U.S. antitrust law, including some proposals that would challenge anti-competitive conduct by large tech companies. Such proposals could potentially force some giant companies to separate different lines of their businesses.
New technological advancements are making healthcare management easier. Telehealth, along with patient portals and cloud-based medical record storage, offers the potential to improve patient engagement and empowerment.
Pray for the security of America’s technology, particularly as it relates to privacy, including that of health records.
Pray for Needs Across the States
A new bill in the Colorado Senate proposes the establishment of a state-run ministry of truth to regulate online speech. The bill called “Digital Communications Regulation” seeks the creation of a digital communications division under the state department of regulatory agencies that will be run by a new commission to serve as arbiters of truth.
Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law legislation banning nearly all abortions in the state, a sweeping measure that supporters hope will force the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit its landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Opponents vow to block enforcement before it takes effect later this year. Arkansas is one of at least 14 states where state legislators have proposed outright abortion bans this year.
Pray for the values and morality of the leadership of the states as they make decisions and take actions on behalf of their constituents.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“God does not want us to live in chronic fear. God delights in courageous people who choose faith over fear. The most often given commandment in the Bible is ‘Fear not.’ But this command is always coupled with the most often given promise ‘For I am with you.’ It is prayer time in America and the Bible was written for times like these. How do you choose faith over fear? If you want to avoid despair, keep praying, keep trusting God, and keep encouraging one another.” – Jentzen Franklin, Senior Pastor, Free Chapel, Gainesville, Georgia
