Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
In a symbolic end to the 20-year war in Afghanistan, the U.S. general leading the effort, General Austin Miller, relinquished command at a ceremony in Kabul. Even as America and its allies are withdrawing, Taliban insurgents have increased their activity across the country.
General Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has received pushback for his apparent embrace of critical race theory. He told Congress that teaching of the theory at the U.S. Military Academy was to make cadets “smarter” about race, and “for those of us in uniform to be open-minded and be widely read, and the United States Military Academy is a university.”
Pray for the morale of America’s troops as the withdrawal from Afghanistan continues and for wisdom for military leadership regarding racial education policy.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
The U.S. government added 14 Chinese companies and other entities to its economic blacklist due to reported human rights abuses, detention, and high-tech surveillance of Muslims in Xinjiang. A statement from the Department of Commerce said it “remains firmly committed to taking strong, decisive action to target entities that are enabling human rights abuses in Xinjiang or that use U.S. technology to fuel China’s destabilizing military modernization efforts.”
A Taliban delegation in Moscow claimed the group now controls 85 percent of Afghanistan’s territory. It gave Russia assurance that it would not allow the country to be used as a platform to attack others.
Pray for U.S. officials and diplomats as responses to China and the situation with the Taliban in Afghanistan for considered.
Pray For AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Vaccine maker Pfizer said it is seeing waning immunity from its coronavirus vaccine and says it is picking up its efforts to develop a booster dose that will protect people from variants and will seek FDA emergency use authorization for a booster dose in August. But the FDA and CDC said Americans don’t need boosters yet and it is not up to pharmaceutical companies alone to decide when they might be needed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging schools to welcome children back to the classroom, vaccinated or not. The health agency recommends face masks for unvaccinated teachers and students as the COVID19 Delta variant spreads, and students of all ages should continue to learn 3 feet apart.
Pray for wisdom and a clear understanding of the coronavirus and its variants for the people at the CDC.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that although he supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is currently unfeasible. He made his remarks as the main guest at a meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council.
Israel and Jordan announced new agreements on water and trade following a secret meeting Prime Minister Naftali Bennett with Jordan’s king last week to improve ties between the two nations. Under the deal, Jordan will purchase an additional 50 million cubic meters of water from Israel and will also increase its exports to the West Bank from $160 million a year to around $700 million.
Pray for the continued strength of the relationship between Israel and the U.S., and between Israel and her neighbors.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
A British consulting firm reports that U.S. consumers are inclined toward a continued preference for more home-based economic activity, even as the pandemic continues to recede. The survey suggests that the post-COVID-19 economic landscape may continue to shift in ways that may have seemed unthinkable prior to last year. Americans are spending more on groceries, healthcare products, and at-home entertainment, taxis and “ride shares.”
The credit reporting firm Equifax reports that U.S. consumers are borrowing money again, in some cases at levels not seen in more than a decade. Consumer demand for auto loans and leases, general purpose credit cards, and personal loans was up 39 percent in April as compared to last year. During 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, many people shunned credit cards, personal loans, and other types of debt as lay-off worries and loss of income dissuaded their use.
Pray for U.S. financial and labor officials to be discerning as the economy continues to open and inflation increases.
Pray for Goodness in America
Two young girls from Colorado devastated by the tragic loss of a local hero created a lemonade stand in order to raise funds for the grieving family. When a 19-year veteran of the local police department was shot and killed by a suspect who “expressed a hatred for police,” leaving behind a wife and two children, the news shocked the entire community. The girls tried to put themselves into the family’s shoes and decided to do something constructive. Their efforts were credited as “shining examples” of the community.
Give thanks for parents bringing up their children with a sense of compassion and a desire to be proactive in helping others.
Pray for America’s Media
A recent poll in Reuters indicated that the United States has the lowest level of public trust in media among 46 countries. Now a group of journalists is teaming up to launch another media company. “Our goal is to build a newsroom of ‘beat’ reporters, subject matter experts, visual journalists and editors that all come together to cover the biggest stories of the day,” said one. “We’ll be creating new formats that give our audience a fuller look at big news stories that can be confusing if you read them piecemeal.” The yet-unnamed news outlet is expected to launch in late September and will be headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Pray for journalists and media outlets to report events factually and with integrity.
Pray for America’s Education
Public school enrollment in 2020-2021 fell by 3 percent nationally compared to a year earlier, with pre-K and kindergarten jointly seeing a sharp 13 percent drop. According to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, the stark numbers represent the largest year-over-year decline in enrollment since the start of the century, and the drop concentrated among the youngest learners.
The president’s $200 billion proposal to expand publicly funded pre-kindergarten through a program that requires buy-in and funds from states is facing questions from legislators over how it will be implemented. The president is seeking to provide pre-kindergarten to all 3- and 4-year-olds as part of his $1.8 trillion families plan, which also includes investments in childcare, paid leave, and community college.
Pray for educators and parents as options are considered and decisions are made about early childcare and education.
Pray for America’s Technology
President Biden spoke with Russian President Putin and told him to “take action” against ransomware groups operating in Russia. He also said the U.S. will take “any necessary action” to defend Americans and critical infrastructure threatened by cyberattacks.
Pray for U.S. cybersecurity officials seeking to prevent attacks to technological infrastructure and for enforcement agencies as they look for the perpetrators.
Pray for Needs Across the States
North Dakota has filed suit against President Biden’s administration for blocking oil and gas production by canceling lease sales. The lawsuit claims the president’s actions will cost the state more than $80 million, which could balloon to billions in lost revenue if the Bureau of Land Management does not resume holding lease sales again.
Missouri’s attorney general filed an amicus brief opposing Kansas City’s efforts to defund its police department, arguing it is illegal and will have “destructive and deadly” consequences for residents following last year, which recorded the highest rate of murder in the city’s history.
Pray for wisdom for state officials as they seek to find the best economic and security policies for their citizens.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
”Century after century, the Bible has shown itself to be our judge. Its authority has been attacked, questioned, criticized, disputed, and denied in every age. Yet it remains. …
The Bible was written by 40 authors who were carried along, or inspired, by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16). Throughout history, in every age and place where this Book has gone, it has supernaturally changed lives. In every century and setting where it has spread, this Book has shown itself inspired by God Himself to transform people, to bring peace and joy and eternal life to those who open it, read it, and bank their lives on it.” – Dr. David Platt, Pastor, McLean Bible Church, Washington, D.C.
