God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
On this date in 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an amendment to the Selective Service Act of 1940 which lowered the age of the draft from 21 to 18. The United States, having been drawn into the Second World War after the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor, needed to boost the number of soldiers in the military to complete its strategic objectives. This decision set off a chain of events that would ultimately lead to the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote” became the motto of young Americans who demanded suffrage in exchange for their compulsion to fight for the nation. It would take 29 years for the government to lower the voting age from 21 to 18. As you pray for elected officials today, ask that God would equip them to safeguard the voice of all citizens in this federal republic.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For members of Congress as they consider biased or discriminatory laws to update.
- For the president and officials in his administration as they promote equity in U.S. society.
