Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
The Pentagon released a list of 134 Chinese military firms that are directly or indirectly operating in the United States. The companies include aerospace, chemical engineering, and information technology entities, which the State Department has identified as China’s Military-Civil Fusion strategy.
Pray for U.S. defense officials as they assess China’s presence in the U.S. and for protection for American military personnel deployed around the globe.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
President Zelenskyy has proposed trading two North Korean prisoners of war for Ukrainian soldiers being held by Russia. Alternately, the Ukrainian president said there may be other options for the wounded prisoners if they would prefer to “bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean” rather than return to their homeland.
Pray for discernment for President Trump and incoming administration officials as they assess the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Wednesday that a ceasefire and hostage release agreement had been reached with Hamas. He thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu and the negotiating team as well as the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., including President-elect Trump and his team. The deal must go through Israeli security and government channels before it is “sealed and complete.”
Pray for U.S. and Israeli officials as the details of the agreement go through formal approval proceedings.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Food and Drug Administration announced the completion of a review for its proposed rule “Tobacco Product Standard for Nicotine Level of Certain Tobacco Products,“ which would lower the maximum level of nicotine in cigarettes. While the agency claims reducing nicotine content would make tobacco products less addictive, those who oppose the move say it would simply boost cartel trafficking.
Pray for discernment for U.S. health officials as they seek ways to address addictions.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The North Dakota Supreme Court recently upheld the state legislature’s preemptive authority to regulate firearms. The city of Fargo had brought a case against a state law that blocks local jurisdictions from enacting restrictions on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
The Texas attorney general sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. He stated the collegiate sports body has “deceptively changed women’s competitions into co-ed competitions” by allowing transgender players to participate.
Pray for state judges and attorneys general as they seek to ensure their laws are upheld.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“As God raises you up to serve in your local congregation (Psalm 75:7), unity and like-mindedness with Jesus and your spiritual leadership is vital. If not, fruitfulness will be withheld from heaven if you choose to serve with your own agenda, in opposition to the flow of ministry in that particular fellowship, under the careful oversight of your spiritual leadership.
Please be careful here; some people think that like-mindedness means a loss of personal identity or a faltering attempt at conformity. Others may think they should submit to their leadership even when there is sin present – but that’s not it at all. There is great diversity in every church and the true beauty of His Body is how God works all of our gifts, talents, and personalities together for His higher good. …
The word used in the New Testament for like-minded is ‘phroneo‘ and depending on the context used, it means to have an understanding, to be wise, to feel and think along similar lines. Amos the prophet put it this way, ‘Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?‘ (Amos 3:3, NKJV). …
Serving Jesus within your local church requires a lot of prayer and seeking out the unique reason God has placed you in His service… if your heart resonates with the heart of Jesus, with the heart of your pastor, with the heart of your overseers, and with the heart of your fellow servants, oh what a difference you’ll make for the Kingdom of God.“ – Ed Taylor, Abounding Grace, Like-Mindedness: Growing in Our Service to Jesus
