Pray the Vote
A bill known as the Family Integrity to Reform Elections Act was introduced this week that would bar any candidate running for federal office from compensating immediate family members for their campaign services. While candidates are allowed by law to pay their immediate family members who provide “a bona fide service to the campaign,” politicians have used this loophole to allow campaign money to be moved to a candidate’s family members “with little proof that they are actually contributing.”
A legal nonprofit group says New Jersey voter rolls have over 8,000 duplicate names, which creates the potential for one person to vote multiple times. The organization has documented similar issues with the voter rolls in states such as Arizona and North Carolina, in addition to other types of ballot inconsistencies in such states as Pennsylvania and Georgia.
Pray for election officials as more states engage in their primary elections and in preparation for voting programs for the November general election.
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The Navy announced a “safety pause” on all non-deployed aircraft units so screening can be conducted in the wake of multiple recent aircraft crashes. They stated they intend “to review risk-management practices and conduct training on threat and error-management processes.”
General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated after returning from France that the military is planning to train a platoon of Ukrainian service members on how to use high-tech multiple-launch rocket artillery. He said they plan to teach Ukrainian soldiers how to use the weapon developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
Pray for the nation’s military leadership as more energy and dollars are expended in support of Ukraine in the war with Russia.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
Ruling in favor of free speech, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals has unanimously reversed a lower court’s decision and ordered that Two Rivers Public Charter School’s lawsuit against a pro-life sidewalk counselor be dismissed.
Pray for pro-life clinics and others across the nation standing for the sanctity of life as they are experiencing attacks by those who oppose them.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Iran dealt a nearly “fatal blow” to the possibility of reestablishing the 2015 nuclear deal when the Iranians removed nearly all of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s monitoring equipment installed under the original deal.
Turkey may soon launch a new military operation against the Kurdish forces that partnered with the U.S. to dismantle the Islamic State in Syria, despite objections from the U.S. State Department. An assistant secretary told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, “We are completely unstinting in our efforts with the Turkish government to back them off on this ill-considered venture.”
Pray for those in the Defense and State Departments who oversee U.S. relations with adversarial nations.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
President Biden’s administration is considering a requirement that the nation’s 15,500 nursing homes spend most of their payments from Medicaid on direct care for residents and limit the amount that is used for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements or diverted to profits.
Federal health officials are investigating several multi-state outbreaks of salmonella infections linked to backyard poultry, saying more than 200 Americans have been stricken so far this year, with one reported death.
Pray for the caregivers in America’s nursing homes where staffing shortages have increased in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
The “Lion of Judah” bronze statue, which celebrates Israel and the country’s friendship with American Christians, was dedicated at a ceremony in Jerusalem with prominent Christian and Jewish guests in attendance. The 1,134-pound, 11-foot-long statue, worth more than $100,000, was installed in the Bloomfield Garden, one of the largest parks in Jerusalem.
The leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group threatened to strike a gas rig Israel is setting up in the Mediterranean Sea. Lebanon claims the location is in a disputed maritime zone between the two countries. Israel says the location is part of its UN-recognized exclusive economic zone.
Pray for Israeli leaders as the government experiences instability and for U.S. officials to continue supporting that nation.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
According to the Consumer Price Index, the inflation rate reached 8.6 percent for the 12 months ending in May. The nation is experiencing the worst inflation since 1981 when the ‘Great Inflation’ ushered President Ronald Reagan into office.
Social Security beneficiaries could see a significant increase in benefits next year of 5.9 percent or roughly $93 in their monthly checks on average. This change is a result of inflation contributing to the cost of living adjustment.
Pray for the chairman and members of the Federal Reserve as they increase interest rates as a way to slow inflation.
Pray for Justice in America
Seventeen attorneys general have filed an amicus brief with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of a Florida law banning sanctuary cities. “The amici States must constantly defend against legal challenges to state statutes brought by those who oppose the results of the legislative process,” they argue in the brief. The states assert that federal courts have often usurped the role of state legislatures in rulings that amount to policy disagreements.
Pray for federal court judges and panels to impartially rule according to existing law and facts.
Pray for Goodness in America
A high school student in West Virginia has been collecting children’s books to be donated to youngsters in need across the state whose access to books has been limited. Similar efforts are ongoing in New York, Virginia, and California.
Give thanks for the ideals of young people in America who are extending themselves to give aid to others.
Pray for America’s Education
Twenty-five states have withdrawn from the National School Board Association. The exodus came after the national association sent a letter to the Justice Department months ago that compared concerned parents at school board meetings to domestic terrorists.
The U.S. Department of Education launched the National Parents and Families Engagement Council in a move to ensure parents can “constructively participate in their children’s education” and to “facilitate strong and effective relationships” between schools and families.
Pray for improved relationships between parents and educators as the content of children’s education is identified and determined.
Pray for America’s Technology
Lina Khan, the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, says the agency is promoting a robust agenda of sanctions and policies to help safeguard children’s privacy online. The ongoing work will include heightened enforcement of a long-standing law governing kids’ online privacy and monitoring the algorithms used by social media platforms targeting young people.
Pray for U.S. officials as efforts are made to shield the privacy of America’s youth.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The Montana Department of Commerce announced the state’s Housing Emergency Rental Assistance Program is expanding its eligibility requirements. Funds are now available for anyone who experienced hardship during the pandemic rather than due to the pandemic. Assistance is now available for up to 18 months, rather than 15.
New Hampshire is the first state to implement broadband expansion after the federal government approved a $50 million project to install high-speed internet. Governor Chris Sununu said the plan is focused on the buildout of unserved and underserved locations around the state.
Pray for state governments’ efforts to better serve the underserved or disadvantaged segments of their citizenry.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Truth means nothing apart from God. Trust cannot be adequately explained, recognized, understood, or defined without God as the Source. Since He alone is eternal and self-existent and He alone is the Creator of all else, He is the fountain of all truth. If you don’t believe that, try defining truth without reference to God, and see how quickly all such definitions fail.” – John MacArthur, Grace Community Church, Simi Valley, California, 2008
