Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall recently spoke about the service’s efforts to reoptimize in order to counter China and Russia. He stated the “critical mass of intellectual capital that the Air Force needs” will remain with the Air Force Materiel Command located at Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio.
Pray for the secretaries of the U.S. military branches as they seek to adjust and adapt to changing technologies and increased global conflict.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
This week, the Defense Department announced another presidential drawdown package of up to $200 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine. The department stated the package will include air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, and anti-tank weapons.
Pray for the president and Pentagon officials to be discerning as they continue to ship U.S. arms and equipment to Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the U.S. will defend Israel from incoming attacks after Israel conducted strikes that killed two senior Iranian-supported commanders. Secretary of State Blinken did say that the U.S. was not involved in the assassination of top Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran this week.
Pray for the president, vice president, and defense leaders to be discerning as they assess the support Israel needs against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released its annual survey on drug use and health for 2023. The health survey shows that 1 in 5 Americans 12 years or older struggled with substance use last year. Also, more adolescents sought mental health treatment compared to prior years.
Pray for U.S. health officials as they evaluate the physical and mental health of the population and for Americans to turn to the Lord for stability and hope.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Governor Glenn Youngkin recently signed legislation passed by the Virginia legislature to restore a military education benefits program that had been cut from the budget earlier this year. The program provides college financial aid to children and spouses of deceased or severely injured veterans. State legislators claimed they did not realize how the program would be reduced in the earlier legislation.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters issued a directive that the Bible is to be incorporated into school curriculums regarding America’s history and founding. Referring to administrators who are resistant to the guidance, he said, “If they’re going to break the law and not teach it, they can go to California.“
Pray for state leaders and officials as they seek to support programs and education that are beneficial to society.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Obviously our nation is reeling right now, as we have before, because of some senseless violence that has helped fuel the flames for some to further polarize people. … I posted something on my Facebook page just encouraging people to pray for calm. … I was surprised that just in mentioning the subject, asking people to pray, people began to just erupt with political bias, one way or the other. …
People might be surprised, this is nothing new, that politics can be very divisive. And you’ve got a few examples in the Bible… Joseph was in prison with Pharoah’s butler and baker because, ostensibly, someone had tried to poison Pharoah and he wasn’t sure who it was yet. Later, it was determined it was the baker. And the butler lived. And in Esther, we have a situation where someone was plotting the assassination of Ahasuerus, and that was discovered. … So this political strife, where people are in positions of visibility and power or influence, they become a target.“ – Doug Batchelor, Bible Answers Live, July 2024
