Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for America’s Military
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed the military branches to identify and define the combat and noncombat roles in their services. The directive is connected with the defense secretary’s instruction that physical fitness standards be the same for males and females in combat positions. Secretary Hegseth said, “Sustained peak physical performance is essential to execute missions of the highest stakes across diverse and challenging terrains.”
For the defense secretary and Pentagon officials as they update fitness standards and define combat roles. For the military personnel stationed around the world.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
Russia paused its drone attacks on Ukrainian territory as they critiqued President Donald Trump’s proposals for ending the war. Russia violated the current ceasefire agreement by attacking a power plant in Kherson. President Trump has reportedly been disappointed by the delay of President Vladimir Putin in negotiating peace.
Pray for Presidents Trump, Putin, and Zelensky as the negotiations for peace continue.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff has outlined a 40-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that would include the release of 10-11 hostages. Mediators indicated that Hamas had suggested a 50-day ceasefire and the release of 5 living hostages. Humanitarian aid would also be delivered directly to Gazan civilians.
Pray for U.S. and Middle Eastern negotiators as they seek to implement a second phase of ceasefire and obtain the release of additional hostages.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Department of Health and Human Services announced the resignation of Dr. Peter Marks as director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. The federal health agency stated that Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is seeking to restore “science to its golden standard” and promote “radical transparency.”
Pray for Secretary Kennedy and HHS officials as they seek to increase scientific standards and transparency in federal health agencies.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis returned $878 million in taxpayer dollars to the federal government. The governor met with Senior Advisor Elon Musk to facilitate the return of the funding. Governor DeSantis said, “For years, Florida has been trying to return federal funds to the federal government due to the ideological strings attached… we got this done in the same day.”
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt fired the state’s Director of Forestry after 515 residents lost their homes in recent deadly wildfires. He stated, “When lives are on the line, every resource must be deployed without hesitation… At the forestry director’s direction, firefighting resources were delayed, unused, or even called back during critical moments.“ The governor’s ranch was one of the properties destroyed in the fires.
Pray for state governors as they address issues unique to their states and constituencies.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Zacchaeus was a Jewish man who had chosen a very controversial vocation for himself, a tax collector for the Roman occupiers, a job that yes, brought him great wealth, but one that had also brought him much distrust and loathing from his fellow Jews. … We aren’t told how familiar Zacchaeus was with the man Jesus. But when Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through Jericho, he was strongly drawn to want to see him. And no, Zacchaeus probably had no idea why he was feeling such a compelling need to see Jesus. Those feelings are not often well understood from a human perspective. They come from a whole other realm, from the ‘Spiritual realm.‘ … Here in [Zacchaeus’] words [in Luke 19:8] God also, graciously allows us to see exactly how His seeking and His saving of lost souls takes place, even when that lost one is one of the worst of the worst of sinners, a chief tax collector. … There is really no obstacle too difficult to prevent Him from bringing salvation to those who are lost.“ – Pastor Bill Adams, Living in God’s Presence, March
