Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The United States is not planning on providing air support to Afghan forces fighting the Taliban after the American withdrawal is complete, said General Frank McKenzie, the commander of U.S. Central Command. He also said that counterterrorism strikes will be limited to when plots to attack the U.S. homeland or a U.S. ally have been uncovered.
The U.S. has put countering China at the heart of its national security policy for several years, and now Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has issued an internal directive calling for several initiatives to counter that Asian nation. Few specifics were provided on how these would be different from efforts already underway.
Pray for the leaders of America’s armed forces as they deal with the priorities of the current administration.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
Legislation that would prevent any flags other than the American flag from flying over embassies has been introduced in the House after flags for Black Lives Matter and the rainbow LGBTQ+ Pride flag were recently flown over diplomatic and consular posts. Dubbed the “Old Glory Only Act,” it states in part, “The federal government should only be flying the flag that represents ALL people, the American flag. We need to bring back pride in our country and raise the Star Spangled Banner proudly. Old Glory represents our great American military and their sacrifices to ensure our freedom. This isn’t a political issue. This is about Patriotism, and we need more of it.”
Pray for passage of the Old Glory Only Act, and about how “wokeness” has invaded every aspect of government life.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
FBI Director Christopher Wray told a House Judiciary Committee he has no doubt that cartel activity from Mexico is making its way into the U.S. “We are pursuing a number of human trafficking task forces, as well as working with certain task forces with DHS to try to address that issue. But there’s no question that the cartel activity on the other side of the border is spilling over in all sorts of ways,” he said.
Satellite images show new and unusual activity at one of Iran’s nuclear sites that is suspected of manufacturing shock wave generators, devices that would allow Iran to miniaturize a nuclear weapon. This disclosure caused the IAEA board, meeting in Vienna, to express concerns that Iran is violating the very nuclear deal that U.S. negotiators are trying to reinstate.
Pray for U.S. officials and negotiators as the migrant situation from the South and the nuclear deal in the Middle East are navigated.
Pray For AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Food and Drug Administration has approved an Alzheimer’s drug, aducanumab despite questions over whether or not there is sufficient evidence to support the drug’s effectiveness. It is the first Alzheimer’s drug approved by the FDA in almost 20 years. Three members of the drug review panel have resigned over the decision, saying the drug has not been proven to benefit patients.
Pfizer and BioNTech have begun testing COVID-19 vaccines in children under 12, while Moderna aims for results from testing in children five years and older in the fall. If Pfizer’s results are positive, it would ask U.S. health regulators in September to expand use to some of the younger children.
Pray for the scientists and researchers at the Food and Drug Administration and the decisions they make that address the health of all Americans.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
The Israeli parliament voted for a new coalition government, shifting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into the opposition on the heels of a dozen years serving as prime minister. Netanyahu indicated he would return to power and dismissed the new coalition as a “dangerous government.”
Israel has sworn in a new prime minister, Naftali Bennett. A former defense minister, Bennett will be leading the most ideologically diverse government in Israeli history.
Pray for the relationship between the new government in Israel and the United States to remain strong and cooperative.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
Economists are saying the recovery is unlike any in recent history and that businesses and workers are poised to emerge from the downturn with far less permanent damage than occurred after recent recessions, particularly the 2007-2009 period. New businesses are popping up at the fastest pace on record… but the problem remains in the labor market, where people are reticent to return to the workplace. There are cautions, however, as shortages in goods, raw materials, and fuels could lead to higher-than-desired inflation.
A Federal Reserve report said U.S. household net worth jumped in the first three months of the year to a fresh record, propelled by gains in stock prices and home values. At the same time, many Americans are not benefitting from recent gains. While the pandemic has led to a surge in savings and opportunities for many to buy a home or invest, the downturn has disproportionately impacted low-income workers, many of whom rent and do not participate in the stock market.
Pray for the U.S. economy and for businesses looking to find the workers they need to reopen and serve the public.
Pray for Justice in America
The foster care system in some states changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some areas, offices that administer the foster system were closed. In other areas, many families decreased their capacity to bring in foster children. In some locations, foster children were left to sleep in the family services’ offices.
As the pandemic eases, pray that children who have entered into the foster care system would be placed with loving and nurturing families.
Pray for America’s Media
President Biden signed executive orders to reverse the former administration’s ban on TikTok and other Chinese-owned apps. The Commerce Department will conduct its own review of the apps to evaluate whether they are credible “foreign threats” and take action, “as appropriate,” according to a White House fact sheet.
Pray for the administration and for the media to research and report findings with accuracy.
Pray for America’s Education
Florida’s State Board of Education banned “critical race theory” from public school classrooms, adopting new rules it said would shield school children from curricula that would “distort historical events.”
Texas has passed a law that created an “1836 Project” aimed at promoting values considered fundamental to state identity as well as the launching of an advisory committee aimed at promoting patriotic education. In addition, every newcomer to Texas who gets a driver’s license will also get a pamphlet that outlines the rich history of Texas.
Pray for everyone involved in teaching America’s children, from governors and legislatures down to teachers’ aides, who are standing for historically accurate education.
Pray for America’s Technology
The cyberattack last year by Solar Winds against the federal government and American businesses has emboldened hackers worldwide to go bigger and harder in multiple major ransomware attacks over the recent months. “The Solar Winds hackers’ tactics and techniques worked so remarkably well last year that there was an incentive for them and others like them to keep going,” said Brian Horton, CEO of Breadcrumb Cybersecurity.
In an interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin denied that the Kremlin is waging cyber warfare against the United States. He added, “You know, the simplest thing to do would be for us to sit down calmly and agree on joint work in cyberspace. We are willing to engage with international participants, including the United States. You are the ones who have refused to engage in joint work.”
Pray for U.S. cybersecurity officials seeking to strengthen preventative measures against the threat of cyberattacks.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The North Dakota legislature established a research grant of $10 million to study energy requirements and conservation. The research will be conducted by the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, a City Council committee recommended releasing an additional $5 million to cover police overtime, a move that would offset some of the cuts it made to police funding last fall. The money would help cover a “small” percentage of the overtime shifts needed amid an officer shortage and costs associated with the trial of a former police officer that created calls for defunding the police, and the retirements or resigning of many in the police department.
Pray for the officials of states and communities attempting to balance public safety with calls for police reform.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
”Prayer itself is an act of faith. When you come to God in prayer, it’s because you have faith He will respond. As you focus your attention on God, you begin to see He is bigger and more powerful than any of your problems, and that understanding will increase your faith because you will begin to believe He can fulfill His promises. And then, as you see God answer your prayers, your faith will deepen because you see firsthand that He can do what He says He can do.” – Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Valley Community Church, Southern California
