September 24th – September 30th, 2020
PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
Attorney General William Barr identified New York City, Seattle, and Portland as three cities that have “permitted violence and destruction of property to exist” and that they have “refused to undertake reasonable measures to counteract criminal activities.”
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has cautioned Congress against cutting funding for nuclear programs saying the cuts would “jeopardize efforts to modernize the U.S. arsenal.” The House has proposed slashing billions of dollars that go toward nuclear programs.
Pray for officials seeking to remedy the rise of anarchy in some of America’s cities and for the direction of America’s future.
PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts said he and his partisan colleagues would consider expanding the size of the Supreme Court if they win the Senate in November and President Trump proceeds with nominating a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Four House committee chairs are calling on the Justice Department watchdog to open an emergency investigation into whether Attorney General William Barr and other political appointees have improperly influenced the upcoming 2020 presidential election.
Pray for members of Congress to work for the good of the nation and the healing of divisions amongst the legislators.
PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY
A federal magistrate judge in San Francisco put on hold a Trump Administration order that curbs the Chinese-owned “super app” WeChat, a day before it was to go into effect, saying the prohibition would violate the free-speech rights of millions of Chinese-speaking Americans who rely on WeChat to communicate.
A federal judge issued a nationwide injunction to temporarily halt changes to U.S. Postal Service policies that have delayed mail delivery across the country ahead of a presidential election expected to see record numbers of mail-in ballots.
Pray for President Trump and the nominee he will select to replace Justice Ginsburg.
CURRENT EVENTS
WARS AND TERRORISM
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said they broke up a plot by militants backed by Iran to launch attacks on diplomats and foreigners on the island nation home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, just days after normalizing relations with Israel.
The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan warned that extremist groups are planning to carry out targeted attacks against women, saying “extremist organizations” plan to target female government and civilian workers, including teachers, human rights activists, office workers and government employees.
Pray for the ongoing protection of American troops in the Middle East, Africa and South Korea.
FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS
Iran has shifted its military strategy regarding U.S. forces in Iraq ahead of the U.S. presidential election, potentially withholding provocative attacks that could have the effect of rallying public support for President Trump.
Taiwan scrambled fighter jets at least twice last week as 18 Chinese aircraft buzzed the island, crossing the sensitive midline of the Taiwan Strait, in response to a senior U.S. official holding talks in Taipei.
Pray for President Trump, Secretary of State Pompeo, and others directly involved in making America’s foreign policy decisions.
ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST
While Bahrain and the UAE were signing agreements to normalize relations with Israel in Washington last week, Palestinian armed factions in the Gaza Strip fired long-range rockets over southern Israeli cities, wounding 13 Israelis, some of them seriously, and causing material damage.
Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz is in Washington for talks with his U.S. counterpart on maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East, following its historic normalization agreement with the UAE and Bahrain.
Pray for the strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Pray for other Arab nations that are considering normalizing relations with Israel.
THE ECONOMY
Consumer sentiment increased more than expected in early September to a six-month high as Americans grew more upbeat about the prospects for the economy according to a University of Michigan study.
The pandemic job market has a bright spot for recent high school graduates who have no plans or postponed plans for college, as they are flexible and pleased for entry-level jobs, particularly in the service sector.
Pray for the return of America’s robust economy, and for workers and businesses that are still struggling.
ACROSS THE STATES
The Rhode Island Board of Elections as well as some of its cities and towns are not happy about the potential cost of the emergency election rules and requirements on local officials crafted due to the mid-pandemic balloting.
The Alaska Supreme Court declined to order the state to reprint 800,000 new-design election ballots that did not include candidates’ political affiliations, seen as a blow to independent candidates who secured Democrat nominations for the state house and senate races.
Pray for state officials across the country dealing with new rules and programs for the 2020 election because of the coronavirus.
VERSE OF THE WEEK
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name! – Psalm 97:11-12
