Pray the Vote
A Reuters/Ipsos survey shows likely voters consider inflation and the economy the most pressing issues as the midterm elections draw near. Also of concern, in their percentage ranking, were employment, gun violence or mass shootings, immigration, abortion or changing abortion laws, and climate or the environment.
Senator Tom Cotton introduced a resolution in Congress that would block a recent move by the city of Washington, DC., which allows illegal immigrants to vote in elections.
Pray for America’s voters as they cast mail-in ballots or prepare to go to their polling places on Election Day.
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released new guidance from the Pentagon saying that the Department of Defense will provide special allowances for service members seeking abortions to travel to states that allow them.
The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced the further delay of the rollout of its new electronic health records system until summer 2023 over flaws that watchdog reports have found posed risks to patient safety. About 41,500 patients in the VA system have received letters notifying them their care may have been delayed because of issues with the new records system.
Pray for Pentagon officials as they support access to abortions that may contravene the Hyde Amendment that prevents taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions.
War in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared martial law in four sections of Ukraine that Moscow recently claimed, increasing security measures in territories where Kyiv has steadily been gaining ground.
U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. has evidence that Iranian troops are “directly engaged on the ground” in Crimea supporting Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure and civilian population.
Pray for the people living in Ukraine as winter approaches and their infrastructures are under attack by the Russian military.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
A report from 97 Percent, a bipartisan group of gun owners and non-gun owners that conducts research on gun safety policies, surveyed 1,078 gun owners nationwide to examine their perceptions of specific gun safety policy details. The study found broad support among gun owners for laws intended to keep people highly prone to violence from gaining access to guns. They found that three-quarters of gun owners are concerned about school shootings, and 71 percent are concerned about mass shootings. Over 80 percent believe that those convicted of a violent crime should not be able to purchase or possess a gun.
Pray for officials in the U.S. government as they weigh the rights under America’s Second Amendment against further laws restricting firearms.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
The U.S. government is considering a plan to jointly produce weapons with Taiwan. Washington wants to increase production capacity for U.S.-designed arms and accelerate their transfer as part of a move to bolster deterrence against China.
A senior Iranian cleric has called on the country’s judiciary to take tough measures against protesters and anyone who thinks the country’s rulers will fall. The Islamic Republic has been gripped by demonstrations that erupted after the death of a 22-year-old woman in police custody last month.
Pray for America’s intelligence community as they keep a watchful eye on events in countries that are hostile to the U.S.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Advisors at the Food and Drug Administration have recommended pulling Makena from the market. Studies have found that the drug, which is intended to prevent preterm births, comes with potential adverse side effects while not providing a benefit.
Health officials in the U.S. are preparing for an anticipated winter COVID-19 surge as cases rise in Europe. Previously, rising infections in America have trailed Europe, including the spread last winter. Cases started trending upward in Europe in early September.
Pray that Americans would experience a mild flu and COVID season this winter.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Israel’s interim prime minister Yair Lapid said that the nation’s 2018 “Basic Law,” which declares Israel the nation-state of the Jewish people, will be amended if he is elected in the November 1 election. He said, if elected, he would not change the status quo on the Temple Mount, which grants Muslims the freedom to pray at the mosque but not for Jews and Christians visiting the site.
The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Israeli Air Force has destroyed an Iranian drone factory in Syrian territory. Iran has been supplying military drones to Russia to support its war on Ukraine.
Pray that God’s will be done in the November 1 election in Israel.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
According to The Wall Street Journal’s latest survey of economists, the U.S. is forecast to enter a recession in the coming 12 months. This projection is based on the Federal Reserve continuing to attempt to bring down persistently high inflation, which is anticipated to contract the economy and cause employers to cut jobs in response.
According to data from the National Association of Realtors, home sales fell for the eighth consecutive month in September as higher interest rates continue to slow the previously highly active market.
Pray for U.S. officials and economists as they evaluate the broad economic conditions in America and how individuals are being impacted.
Pray for Justice in America
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the indictment of another pro-life activist on October 14, bringing the number of apparently nonviolent pro-life protesters charged by the Justice Department under the FACE (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) Act this year to 22. Meanwhile, the department has yet to announce a single arrest or indictment against any vandals or arsonists who have attacked crisis pregnancy centers after the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Pray for the president, the attorney general, and other administration officials to uphold the law and justice impartially.
Pray for Goodness in America
The founder of Patagonia gave away ownership of his company to allow the mission and purpose to remain intact. His decision, while rare, reflects the decision of other business owners like Alan Barnhart of Barnhart Centre. David Green, CEO of Hobby Lobby, said he has experienced a similar decision-making process with his ownership of the hobby store: “I chose God,” he said, adding, “It’s God who gives the power to make wealth and I have learned that as CEO of Hobby Lobby.”
For Christian businessmen and women who credit God with their successes and who are not afraid to lay down their wealth to better serve Him.
Pray for America’s Media
A new survey by Gallup shows that Americans’ trust in the mass media to provide accurate and fair reporting has not risen over the last year, remaining barely above the low point reached during the 2016 presidential campaign. A majority of respondents said their trust level was “not very much” or “none at all.”
Pray for decision-makers in America’s newsrooms to report events accurately and without political bias.
Pray for America’s Education
The Florida Board of Education has approved a policy that states parents must be informed if a school is opting to allow trans-identified students to use school facilities according to their chosen gender identity rather than separating students by biological sex.
A poll conducted by City Journal revealed that most high school students report being taught Critical Race Theory. Ninety percent said that they had either been taught or heard about CRT in school. Nearly 70 percent said they had at least heard in school that “white people have privilege” and 75 percent were taught that “white people have unconscious biases that negatively affect non-white people.”
Pray for school administrators, teachers, and boards of education would focus on the basic education of students rather than social engineering, as recent test scores show U.S. students below the 50 percentile internationally.
Pray for America’s Technology
TikTok’s Chinese parent company reportedly planned to use the social media app to track the personal location of specific American citizens. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to Forbes that the company used location data to “among other things, help show relevant content and ads to users, comply with applicable laws, and detect and prevent fraud and inauthentic behavior.”
Pray for members of the administration and Congress to address countries like China using technology within America to obtain data for their own purposes.
Pray for Needs Across the States
A school district in Iowa approved a measure allowing some staff members to carry firearms on campus. It is the second district in the state to pass a measure allowing some teachers and other staff to carry firearms following the devastating mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, which left 19 students and two teachers dead.
A new rule proposed by the Secretary of State of Missouri would withhold funding from libraries that do not adhere to policies that shield minors from inappropriate content. Libraries would also need to pledge not to put state funds toward the purchase of sexually explicit material and that age-appropriate content is displayed in children’s sections.
Pray for state officials and agencies that are taking stronger stands regarding matters that affect schools and students.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“As life becomes increasingly unpredictable and chaotic, many people are searching for answers. Here’s the good news: when things are very dark, God has a history of doing great things. God has a message of hope and healing for those who are anxious about what the future holds for this crazy mixed-up world. We don’t need a political revolution. We don’t need a moral revolution. We need a JESUS REVOLUTION.” – Pastor Greg Laurie, Harvest Christian Fellowship, October 2022
