Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The U.S. Air Force announced that it will test a hypersonic missile that it hopes to make available to warfighters in the next couple of years. Hypersonic speed begins at five times the speed of sound. Modern hypersonic cruise missiles can travel up to 15 times the speed of sound and maneuver while in flight, making them difficult to counter.
“Border security is national security,” said U.S. Northern Commander General Glen VanHerck before a Senate Armed Services Committee. He said the current deployment of troops to the southern border region could be extended or increased beyond its September 30 expiration date as illegal migration continues to surge.
Pray for America’s military commanders and the decision-making capacities they have on both foreign and domestic matters.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota called the National Parks Service’s denial of a fireworks permit for South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore July 4 celebration a denial of “an opportunity to share freedom” as it is about “celebrating freedom across the country.”
Pray for wisdom for the officials in the federal government as they determine how to best honor America’s heritage.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
China and Russia are partnering to build a lunar research station, possibly on the surface of the moon, marking what could be the beginning of a new space race and a new time of cooperation between the two major powers.
John Sopko, the Pentagon’s special inspector general for reconstruction in Afghanistan warned that withdrawal of international forces would also mean the departure of 13,000 contractors, without which “Afghanistan may be fighting for its very survival.” He warned that the Afghan military could not maintain combat effectiveness for more than a few months if contractor support were withdrawn.
Pray for those in the U.S. government tasked with decisions regarding the withdrawal of troops and contractors from Afghanistan.
Pray For AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
AstraZeneca reported the results of a late-stage medical study in the U.S that shows its COVID-19 vaccine provided strong protection against sickness and eliminated hospitalizations and deaths from the disease across all age groups.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned the U.S. is poised for another “avoidable” surge in new COVID-19 cases unless the public follows social distancing protocols. Rochelle Walensky said the nation is “at a critical point in this pandemic, a fork in the road.” She pointed to the surge occurring in Europe as an example of the need for vigilance.
Pray with thanksgiving for the reduction in cases of COVID-19 and pray that the vaccines would be effective in further reducing cases.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
An Israeli airstrike struck a farm in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for rocket fire against southern Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties according to Palestinian medics and witnesses.
Results of Israel’s most recent elections are too close to call, as yet. Yair Lapid is running second to Benjamin Netanyahu. If the government continues to be deadlocked Netanyahu will remain Prime Minister until a fifth election is held in the fall.
Pray for the relationship of the United States with the leadership of Israel. Pray for the formation of the new government body in Israel.
Pray for THE AMERICAN ECONOMY
A new real estate report reveals that one in five U.S. homeowners is looking to place their home on the market this year, and the spring home buying and selling season is already “hot.”
The Commerce Department reported that retail sales declined last month when inclement winter weather settled over large swaths of the nation, representing a temporary setback in demand that’s poised to accelerate in the coming months.
Pray that the economy would continue to advance and be able to maintain stability into the future.
Pray for Justice in America
The Justice Department is investigating whether Visa, Inc. is engaging in anticompetitive practices in the debit-card market by limiting merchants’ ability to route debit-card transactions over card networks that are often less expensive.
The Justice Department alleges that a group called Proud Boys conspired in multiple encrypted channels ahead of the January 6 riot at the Capitol to avoid criminal gang charges. Two Proud Boys have been indicted for their participation as well as at least 6 members of a group known as the Oath Keepers.
Pray for God’s justice to be done in the nation, whether in business cases or in cases of civil unrest.
Pray for Goodness in America
A first-grade Girl Scout from Scottsdale, Arizona, had such an adorable sales pitch to a doorbell security camera that it went viral, and she quickly sold more than 3,750 boxes of cookies to people across America. Giving back, she has now donated more than 1,000 boxes of cookies to nursing homes, hospitals, and health care workers, “to bring some joy to our elders in isolation,” she said. In addition, her troop also donated $1,000 to pediatric cancer research using some of the money from their cookie sales.
Give thanks for children who are willing to think beyond themselves, and for the adults in their lives to encourage them to be charitable.
Pray for America’s Media
The president’s administration has imposed media restrictions at the southern border. Border Patrol agents, including sector chiefs and press officers, are under an unofficial gag order not to answer questions from the press and not to allow “ride-alongs,” according to CBP officials.
Instagram announced it will implement direct messaging restrictions between teenage users and adults they do not follow in an effort to bolster youth safety on its platform. The platform will also send safety notices to teens alerting them to be cautious about direct messaging interactions.
Pray for U.S. officials to protect the freedom of speech and freedom of the press even as they seek to safeguard privacy.
Pray for America’s Education
A Vermont principal was fired for making controversial social media posts that were critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson has called the firing a “blatant attempt to flat out discriminate against people because of their political ideologies.” He said it is not only unfair but “it’s not the American way and it’s certainly something that should not be done in education.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that critical race theory will not be included in the curriculum of the state’s public schools. “Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money,” he said. “Florida civics curriculum will incorporate fundamental concepts with the best materials and it will expressly exclude unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory and other unsubstantiated theories.”
Pray for leaders of states and of schools in America as they wrestle to ensure that diverse voices and views are heard and allowed.
Pray for America’s Technology
The Supreme Court rejected Facebook’s request to reduce a $15 billion class action lawsuit alleging that the company illegally tracks the activities of internet users even when they are logged out of the social media platform.
National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger worked with Microsoft to come up with solutions for small businesses impacted by a recent, massive foreign hack of email service software. The National Security Council announced a new tool developed by Microsoft has helped to contain the damage from the hack and reduce the number of vulnerabilities in the past week.
Pray for U.S. technological officials and engineers as they strive to find ways of keeping hackers out of programs.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Wyoming lawmakers are evaluating competing proposals to address a projected $300 million shortfall in K-12 education funding over the next two years and are looking to solutions for a longer-term deficit in school funding.
A collection of bills are quickly making their way through the Kentucky legislature, including a number of police accountability reforms. One bill would ban chokeholds and another would strengthen the state’s system for decertifying police officers. Some legislation has stalled, including a plan to end the qualified immunity that can shield officers from civil lawsuits and a measure to stop arbitrations from reversing police discipline.
Pray for the state legislatures as they are in the bill-crafting session and motivated to make updates to the law.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“We need to recognize that God is up to something far greater… that I believe is beyond what many even recognize. We need to stop, we need to take a breather and we need to come back to a place where we can begin to dialogue about these issues rather than be so triggered. We are choosing to radically obey Jesus over any other voices in this season.” – Jeremiah Johnson, Pastor, GracePoint Church, Georgetown Kentucky
