Pray the Vote
At least six states will have abortion measures on their November ballots. California, Vermont, and Michigan have some degree of unrestricted access guarantees to be voted on, while Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania are looking to curtail any assumed right to an abortion as a constitutional matter.
The Wisconsin State Supreme Court ruled that drop boxes for absentee ballots are illegal. All absentee ballots must be returned to municipal clerks either in person or by mail, they said, noting that drop boxes are not stipulated under the Wisconsin statutes.
Pray for state election officials as they prepare for the 2022 mid-term elections.
Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The 2021 Military Family Support Programming Survey found that the number of military personnel and veterans who would recommend joining the armed forces has decreased in the past two years. This lack of enthusiasm indicates a possible threat to national security.
The Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency announced that the Defense Department has successfully conducted two hypersonic missile system tests recently. Both also met secondary objectives.
Pray for defense officials as they consider measures to gain military recruits.
Pray for AMERICA’S FREEDOMS
A new poll by the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports found that, while 80 percent of likely voters say they are “very proud” or “somewhat proud” to be an American, the pride wanes a bit among some partisans, younger voters between the ages of 19 and 39, and those who self-identify as liberal. Large majorities of younger voters believe the country and its institutions are “systemically” racist and sexist, and a large number of younger voters support UN authority over America to “protect civil rights.”
Pray for U.S. governing officials as they consider laws or measures that would undermine the nation’s autonomy and independence.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
Iran unveiled military advances that put armed drones aboard its warships creating a new threat for the U.S. and the Persian Gulf states. Their announcement came as President Biden was in the region in part to help build security partnerships to counter Tehran.
The World Economic Forum says fighting climate change can save democracy as long as consumers stop burning coal, oil, and gas in exchange for green renewables. To protect and promote freedom, “leading democracies must strengthen their economies and safeguard liberty,” they said.
For the president, secretary of state, and other administration officials as they consider globally oriented policies.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has extended the COVID public health emergency status for another three months, or until mid-October, as cases of the latest Omicron subvariant increase.
Christian doctors in three states—South Carolina, Ohio, and Arkansas—are now protected from lawsuits or job losses if they decline to perform various medical procedures that go against their religious or moral views.
Pray for doctors and others in the medical community as they stand up for their views, particularly those who oppose and refuse to perform in abortions.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
On his visit to Israel, President Biden and Israeli interim prime minister Yair Lapid announced the launch of a new Strategic High-Level Dialogue in Technology that aims to establish a technological partnership between the two nations. Among other things, the technological partnership will focus on addressing climate change, studying artificial intelligence, and countering the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a speech after his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, President Joe Biden stressed that a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines, with agreed-upon land swaps, is the best way to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Pray for American governing authorities to continue to strengthen the relationship the U.S. has with Israel.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
Food banks across the nation, which had started to see some relief as people returned to work after pandemic shutdowns, are again experiencing long lines. The charities are struggling to meet the latest need even as federal programs provide less food to distribute, grocery store donations wane, and cash gifts do not stretch as far under the current rate of inflation.
U.S. retail sales rose 1 percent in June as consumers spent more across a range of goods, even while inflation reached a new four-decade high of 9.1 percent.
Pray for American families who are struggling to make ends meet in the face of inflation.
Pray for Justice in America
A federal civil rights complaint has been filed against a major sports retailer by a legal organization for promoting abortions among its employees while at the same time not providing matching paid maternity care. They have asked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to open a civil rights investigation for multiple violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978.
Pray for the officials at the EEOC as they consider opening an investigation into discriminatory practices by large retailers.
Pray for Goodness in America
The U.S. launched its long-awaited 988 suicide and crisis lifeline last weekend. Troubled individuals and those with suicidal ideations can call this three-digit number and be connected to a trained counselor at a local call center and ultimately be routed to potentially life-saving support services. The new number is easy to remember, free, available 24/7, and confidential.
Pray for those who are in extreme mental distress and for those who will answer their 988 calls for help.
Pray for America’s Media
A cybersecurity firm says that Chinese government-linked hackers targeted journalists based in Washington and those covering the White House in the weeks after President Joe Biden’s election over former President Donald Trump. The report said that the “malicious emails” from the Chinese hackers “utilized subject lines pulled from recent U.S. news articles,” as “part of a broader pattern of reconnaissance publishing conducted by this threat actor over many years.”
A new Gallup poll has revealed that public confidence in television and print media is at its lowest level in nearly 50 years as people do not feel the outlets are delivering trustworthy news.
Pray for believers to seek God’s discernment and guidance to know what information is true and factual.
Pray for America’s Education
Government coronavirus relief funds allocated by the Arizona Department of Education were used to purchase books depicting LGBTQIA+ characters. In a statement on the teachers’ orientation page, the department said it was “proud to champion the efforts of teachers as we build and recover from the pandemic.”
A new Gallup poll shows just 28 percent of Americans say they have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in public schools, the second lowest figure on record. The poll illustrates a growing national divide over public education, and it also reveals a stark partisan divide in views of public schools, making it a challenging issue under consideration by candidates for office in the midterm elections.
Pray that more state education officials would allow school choice for parents and their children.
Pray for America’s Technology
Amazon responded to Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts with a letter stating that the video doorbell Ring has shared footage with law enforcement multiple times this year without users’ consent. Amazon said it has given law enforcement footage in response to an emergency request, without user consent, eleven times so far in 2022.
A Department of Homeland Security review board said a vulnerability in software that governments and companies around the world use could take years to eliminate. They concluded that the vulnerability will be “endemic” and may remain in the systems for up to a decade or more.
Pray for government regulators as they work to stay apace with the advances in technology.
Pray for Needs Across the States
Governor Jared Polis of Colorado signed a bill last year that makes state benefits available for migrants, including dental care, mental health counseling, and family services, and expanding eligibility for property tax, rent, and utility subsidies. As of July 1, legal U.S. residency is no longer required to obtain state and local government benefits, secure professional licenses, or get business permits. One legal analysis said the expansion of eligibility to immigrants will cost Colorado taxpayers $12 million a year.
The Arkansas School Safety Commission said law enforcement officers from all agencies need uniform training for school shootings to prevent the confusion that occurred during the recent killings at the Uvalde school in Texas. “If we’re all on the same page, then I think we can react in a uniform fashion,” said Fort Smith Public Schools Police Chief Bill Hollenbeck.
Pray for state and local officials who deal with the many new migrants in their communities while also protecting students and the public.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“It’s time that we seek God’s healing upon our lives. We start with our own lives and then seek His grace to affect more and more hearts. We should not be excited about political matters on their own. They have no solution. They reflect the condition of the society. Nor should we put our confidence in more funding, grants, insurance, etc. These are nothing and can be removed in an instance if we have not God’s blessing. Let’s seek His face and His blessing.” – Pastor Ajai Prakash, The Well, North Liberty, Iowa, November 2010
