Additional National Prayer Needs
Pray for our Military
The Pentagon press secretary reported that the Iranian-backed militant attacks last week killed one American contractor and caused traumatic brain injuries to six service members. “No group will strike our troops with impunity,” Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated.
The USS Florida, a guided-missile submarine, has begun transitioning the Suez Canal en route to the Middle East in support of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain. Commander Timothy Hawkins stated this is to “help ensure regional maritime security and stability.”
Pray for the safety of American troops wherever deployed, including those engaged in large-scale military drills in the Indo-Pacific region.
PRAY FOR AN END TO THE WAR IN UKRAINE
On a visit to Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to reason with Russia and help end the war in Ukraine. Xi said he hoped Russia and Ukraine could hold peace negotiations soon. Their conversation was said to have been friendly, frank, constructive, and in-depth.
Russia and Ukraine engaged in a prisoner swap over the Easter weekend, as each returned more than 200 soldiers back to their home countries. Some of the prisoners “have serious injuries, illnesses or have been tortured,” according to Ukraine’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.
Pray for officials engaged in negotiations that are going on behind the scenes to bring peace to Ukraine.
Pray for AMERICA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS
A $1.5 million taxpayer-dollar initiative has been offered by the State Department to be divided among qualifying LGBTQ+ organizations around the world as part of the Global Equity Fund. Those who receive funding should have projects that “empower” local governments, prevent “violence, disinformation, stigma, and human rights abuses” against LGBT individuals and promote “full social inclusion” for them as part of addressing “critical issues of justice.”
A misstep by China could lead to an “uncontrollable world war outbreak,” Taiwan’s foreign minister said. “The Chinese military exercises this couple of days have been very serious,” he said. “If you look at the sorties of the Chinese air force, together with the ships, they’re coming very close to Taiwan. And any accident might spark an uncontrollable war between Taiwan and China. And if other countries are trying to intervene, it might be the start of a war of great scale.”
Pray for members of the president’s administration to seek direction from God regarding the China-Taiwan situation as well as the exporting of progressive ideologies to the rest of the world.
Pray for AMERICA’S HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Funding and staffing issues are cited as reasons for closing more than 200 maternity units in primarily rural hospitals, forcing mothers-to-be to travel often dozens of miles to give birth to their infants. Prenatal care is also becoming a challenge in many areas.
In other rural areas, there are shortages of doctors. Even residency training programs in some areas have been closed down. Said one resident doctor who was training in a shuttered program in Nevada, “I don’t know what I’m going to do. It almost set [me] back. I would say to square one. That’s so distressing to a patient.”
Pray for legislators and administrators as they consider issues being faced by rural hospitals.
Pray for AMERICA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL
Israel is calling up police and military reservists following conflict with Palestinians and missiles fired from both Gaza and Lebanon. Separate attacks at flash points across the country have injured many and killed at least three, including one tourist in Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank.
In a telephone call with the president of Iran, Turkey’s President Erdogan insisted that the “Islamic world should be united against Israel’s attacks in Palestine.” He said it would be “beneficial to take initiatives to steer all parties to common sense.” Separately, he called on Russia to “jointly continue efforts in international platforms, especially in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the U.N., to preserve the status of holy places.”
Pray for Israeli and Palestinian officials as tensions escalate.
Pray for AMERICA’S ECONOMY
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that concerns over inflation remain at record highs this quarter among small business owners. “Their view of the broader economy is darkening,” said a Chamber vice president.
New data from Lending Club revealed 44 percent of Americans work a second job. A Flex Jobs survey found 69 percent of employed professionals either have a side job or want one.
Pray for federal leaders in their effort to respond to higher costs of living and inflation.
Pray for Goodness in America
A six-year-old boy in Missouri, who volunteers with a group called Alleluia Baskets, built Easter baskets on his own, telling his parents he “wants to help more kids smile” who might not otherwise receive an Easter basket. He helped collect 12,221 items for the 2023 Easter delivery and is already planning for next year.
Give thanks for young children—and their parents—who have a heart to give to those less fortunate.
Pray for Needs Across the States
The Senate in the state of Washington passed legislation that would ban the sale and manufacture of assault weapons. The bill needs to go back to the House for concurrence on some amendments before it goes to the governor. If passed and signed, it would take effect immediately and ban at least 60 different styles of assault weapons.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has called on the legislature to end the death penalty. His proposal has failed in past years to gain support, but some legislators say they are cautiously optimistic that it could gain passage in this legislative session.
Pray for state legislators to be responsive to the values of the people in their states.
Pray for America’s Faith Community
“Through Jesus’ actions on Holy Thursday, our call to love through the total gift of ourselves is made clear. … We are called to give our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength as Jesus gave his body. We are called to pour out ourselves in service to others as Jesus poured forth his blood. … We are called to show that same self-giving love to our neighbor.” – Fr. Paul Hedman, Associate Pastor, Church of St. Peter, Forest Lake, Minnesota
