Praying During an Election

 As Election Day (2024, USA) is happening on Tuesday, this will be a collection of prayer prompts for the election.

• not as I will, but as God wills.
• a peaceful election
• the results to be verified and accepted
• short voting lines for those with limited time to vote
• our outgoing leaders to finish well
• our incoming leaders to start well

What other prayers can you pray for this election?

Praying for Leaders after Election Season Ends: Part 2

Paul exhorts Timothy (and us as well) in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, "...that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

The previous blog post looked at the methods of prayer listed in verse 1. Today we will look at who we are told to be praying for. 

Notice, we are told to pray FOR people, not pray AGAINST them. If we are praying for their destruction, arrest, or punishment, then we are not praying on their behalf. We need to leave the judge's seat for God.

Now are all of our prayers for people to feel positive emotions or the warm fuzzies? Not necessarily. We are praying FOR people and what would benefit them, even if they may not want it.

What sorts of prayers might be included in this category? 

-That they would be convicted of sin and move to repentance.

-That they would be humbled before God and surrender to Jesus' authority.

-That they would be drawn closer to God (this works for both non-believers and believers, since there's always a closer relationship with God). 

What other hard, yet beneficial, prayers can you think of? 

We are to be praying FOR...

For all people. Not just the people we like, or who look/act/think/vote like us. 

Who do you struggle to pray FOR? 

The other gender? 

The other side of the political aisle? 

The other religions? 

The other sexual orientations and gender identities? 

For kings. (or presidents, dictators, prime ministers, etc.)

Who are the leaders of your country? 

Continent? 

World? 

What struggles are they facing? 

For those in authority. (congressional representatives, judges, speaker of the house, justices, admirals, etc.)

Who are your congressional representatives? 

Judges or Justices? 

Leaders of the military and legislative branch? 

May we live peaceful and quiet lives. Not stirring up trouble or complaining.

Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of ways you have not been living peacefully or quietly. 

Include all areas of your life, including social media posts!!

May we live in all godliness and holiness. Not criticizing others for failing to live up to our holiness standards. 

We are called to live godly and holy lives. We are NOT called to enforce this lifestyle on everyone we meet, regardless of their religion.

Which parts of this post are difficult or challenging or even offensive? 

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Praying for Leaders after Election Season Ends: Part 1

Paul exhorts Timothy (and us as well) in 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, "...that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

Let's break these verses down a little. 

Petitions are requests, often formal, made to someone in authority (God), in a respectful and humble manner.

Similarly prayers are defined as a devout petition or communing with God through various ways (asking, rejoicing, adoring, confessing)

Intercessions are praying on behalf of another person. 

Thanksgiving involves giving thanks or gratefully acknowledging the benefits or favors received

Throughout today, try to use each of these styles of prayer.

-Petitions 

-Prayers

-Intercession

-Thanksgiving

Try to connect the prayer times with meals and bedtime, if that helps. 

Which method comes the most naturally to you? 

Which method is the most difficult to use? 

What petitions are you making? 

When do you struggle to be respectful and humble? 

What methods of prayers do you typically use? 

(Search for "12 types of prayer" and see well over 12 options. Both the "all" and "images" have plenty of options). 

How are you interceeding for others? 

Are you praying on their behalf or asking for their judgment and punishment? 

For their benefit or against them? 

How often are you giving thanks? 

What and who are you giving thanks for? 

Who is the Holy Spirit asking you to give thanks for? 

Which parts of this post are difficult or challenging or even offensive? 

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Praying for Both Gaza and Israel

 Pray for Israel, but also pray for the civilians in Gaza as well.

Israel's defense minister was quoted as saying ""No electricity, no food, no water, no gas - it's all closed," he said, adding that "we are fighting animals and are acting accordingly.""
<https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67051292>

Let me be explicitly clear: People are not animals. When we dehumanize people, we begin to head toward genocide and we kill off a part of our own humanity inside us as well.

People need food and water. People with medical problems need electricity. People need medicine. The people living in Gaza are struggling with food insecurity because of the violence and now are having their access to water and electricity cut off.

This is breaking my heart. Yes, the group Hamas are terrorists and committed acts of terror, but Palestine, and Gaza in particular, is NOT 100% Hamas.

We have all these groups halting aid to Palestine, whereby Palestinians are suffering along with the Israelis (attacked by Israel and oppressed by Hamas).
<https://www.npr.org/2023/10/09/1204662594/europe-condemn-hamas-support-israel-suspend-palestinian-aid>

We can mourn the attack on Israel and condemn the actions of Hamas WITHOUT cutting off essentials to life. Pray for Israel, but also pray for the civilians in Gaza. 

How to Pray the News: Praying by Prayer Type/Prayer Summary 30

Summary: Country of the Week: Qatar

Source: Link

The theme for this week uses the "hour of prayer" theme to pray by the type of prayer. A search on the internet will show a circle of prayer with 12 themes (each for 5 minutes) to add up to an hour of prayer. One that I have used has the following themes: 

1. Worship

2. Waiting on the Lord

3. Confession of Guilt and Sin

4. Praying Scripture

5. Watching

6. Intercession

7. Petitions

8. Thanksgiving

9. Song

10. Contemplation/Meditation

11. Listening

12. Praise

Now, I've edited these themes a bit for our purposes. The ones that I cut out are still important and valid ways to pray, but they don't fit in the theme of praying the news. So still wait on the Lord, pray Scripture, sing to God, take time for contemplation/mediation, and listen to what God is saying, but we will focus on the following 6 themes below. 

1. Worship God for His attributes and Praise God for His actions and Give Thanks: I combined these three into one category, because these are generally summed up in the PRAISE points in my blog. We worship God for His mercy in guiding rescuers to survivors of a disaster. We praise God for sending rain to put out a forest fire and lower the temperature in a heatwave. We are thankful/offer thanksgiving for answered prayers and good things happening in the world.

2. Lament: I added this category, because lament is SUCH a common prayer in the Bible that our prayer time would be incomplete without this. Lament is the brokenness and pain from living in a broken and sinful world. We lament for the people who are suffering, as well as those with hard hearts and stiff necks, who are not moved with compassion at these plights. We lament for the victims of these events, as well as the perpetrators who have caused such pain. We lament for those trusting in weapons and wars to protect them instead of trusting in God. We lament for those to lean on their own understanding and their own resources instead of depending on God. This is the category that breaks our hearts as we join with God in weeping with those who weep and mourning for those who mourn.  

3. Intercession (for other people)/Big prayers: Intercession, in its simplest form, is praying for other people. We ask: "Does this news story affect me?" and if the answer is no, then we intercede for those who ARE affected by these events. This is where we pray the big prayers for wrongs to be righted and for God's peace to rule in people's hearts and over the earth. 

4. Petitions (for yourself): Petitions involve praying for things that impact us and our lives. If we ask "Does this news story affect me?" and the answer is yes, then we will petition God for His will to be done in this situation that we (and others) are involved in. This is where you pray for things happening in your country, your state, and your region. I opted to post national news stories in this section, rather than publishing local stories that would indicate my location. 

5. Confession of Guilt and Sin/Repentance: We need to confess the things we are guilty of. We need to confess the sins in our hearts and lives, so that we can repent of them. The first step is to acknowledge the things we are guilty of. We must tell God the sins that have broken our relationship with Him. Some are sins of commission or the bad things that we have done. Others are sins of omission or the good things that we were commanded to do, but we disobeyed and didn't do them. The next step is repentance. If we confess and then do nothing to change, then we are still guilty. In order to be forgiven, we must CONFESS and REPENT. We must turn from our sins that we have acknowledged. So when we read about a disaster and are not moved with compassion, pray for this shortcoming in our lives. When we read about the result of a person's fear turning to hatred and finally turning to vicious actions, repent of the same fear and distrust in our own hearts. 

6. Watching: I almost cut this category, because technically, all prayers based on news headlines could fit into this category. When we watch, we take the things our senses observe and turn them back to God. So for this section, I encourage you to take a walk through your neighborhood and turn the things you see/hear/smell/taste/touch into prayer requests. For example, pray for the children you see playing. Pray for the neighbor you hear mowing their lawn. Pray for those who are hungry when you smell meat on a grill. Pray for those without access to clean water when you taste the water you brought with you (cuz good hydration is important). Pray for the people who have sat and who will sit on the bench you rest on. 

Worship/Praise/Thanksgiving

Summary: PRAISE: Some people have welcomed refugees into their homes
Source: Link
Summary: PRAISE: Nigeria secures the release of kidnapping victims
Source: Link

Summary: PRAISE: 275,000 people in Missouri gain access to health care
Source: Link

Summary: PRAISE: Samoa will have its first female prime minister
Source: Link

Lament

Summary: Pray for those grieiving the death of Haiti's president after he was assassinated, even as we pray for a peaceful transition to their next leader
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving the 13 people killed when a fuel tanker exploded in Kenya
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those who are grieving a lack of diversity and representation in governments and organizations
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the 30+ people killed in monsoon rains in Mumbai and thr 110 in a western state in India
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the death of a 13 year boy in Singapore
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving the 12 people who died due to flooding in China

Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the dead from the Florida condo collapse
Source: Link and Link

Intercession (for other people)/Big prayers

Summary: Pray for the flood victims in Europe as well as those involved in clean-up and rebuilding
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for people in places experiencing virus outbreaks, as well as places attempting to keep out the virus while letting in visitors
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for the people getting vaccinated, as well as those making decisions on who is eligible for vaccines. Pray for medical and other essential workers to have access to vaccines. Pray for students and workers to follow their school/work vaccination rules
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for India's virus widows, who lost a spouse in the pandemic
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for places opening up in the midst of the pandemic, as well as those frustrated by travel bans affecting them
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for people to follow government and health guidelines in the pandemic. Pray for those vandalizing vaccination centers to be held accountable for their actions
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for restaurants workers to receive fair wages, benefits, and polite customers. Pray for people to treat workers with dignity and respect
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for peace in Sudan. Pray for peace in Ethiopia
Source: Link and Link

Petitions (for yourself)

Summary: Pray for a decrease in gun violence in the US. Pray for people to learn how to solve problems non-violently
Source: Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those affected by wildfires in the US/Canada
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray people to repent of hate & anger that led to the Capitol Riot, even as we pray for them to face the just consequences of their actions
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people being held prisoner without being convicted of a crime or having been sentenced to prison. This applies to prisoners in Guantanamo, as well as poor defendants unable to afford bail
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for eligible voters to be able to vote. Pray for just voting laws to be passed
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for communities which have been hit hardest by the virus, particularly black and brown neighborhoods
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for workers expected to work 80+ hours a week in high temperatures for low pay. Pray for workers to be treated humanely and to be able to earn a living wage
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for men to treat women with dignity and respect (and for women to do that same with men). Pray for people to realize and accept that no one "owes" them romantic interactions. Pray for sexual harassment towards restaurant staff to be stopped and for workers to be protected by laws
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for an end to racism
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for workplaces to ensure safe working conditions for their workers
Source: Link

Confession of Guilt and Sin/Repentance

What do you have to confess and repent of in the lament, intercession, and petitions sections? 

Watching 

Take a walk through your neighborhood and pray for what your senses notice.

How to Pray the News: Praying for Restoration/Praying the News Summary 29

Summary: Country of the Week: Mali

Source: Link

The theme for this week is praying for restoration. Instead of looking at the place or the type of issue, we will be praying for the things that are wrong to be made right. 

So when we read about violence, let us pray for peace.

When we read about injustice and oppression, let us pray for justice and freedom.

When we read about natural disasters, let us pray for the world to be renewed and restored.

When we read about sickness, let us pray for healing and cures for diseases.

When we read about accidents, let us pray for restoration, reconciliation, and redemption. 

When we read about people suffering from mental anguish and lamenting, let us pray for repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation. 

Peace (Violence) 

Summary: Pray for the hate and fear that sparks violence at rallies and protests to be eliminated from our hearts. Pray for symbols of oppression to be removed from our country
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for Haiti to have a smooth transition of power after its president was assassinated. Pray for those responsible to be held accountable for their actions, even as we pray for them to repent
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people to repent of attempted coups and violent overthrows of government
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the riots in South Africa to be replaced by discussions, negotiations, and a peaceful resolution
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for mantees and other species to be respected and protected. Pray for people to change our habits so we don't hurt and destroy living things
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for Afghan citizens to live in peace & freedom after foreign troops leave. Pray for all people there to be treated with dignity and respect
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for Ethiopia's conflict to be solved peacefully and justly
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the pro-democracy protestors in Eswatini to have their concerns addressed. Pray for the protests to remain peaceful
Source: Link

Justice/Freedom (Injustice/Oppression)

Summary: Pray for a more just foster system (in Canada where indigenous children are overrepresented)
Source: Link 
Summary: Pray for racism and biases to end. Pray for black outdoorsmen and women to be treated with dignity and respect (first link story). Pray for black athletes to be treated with dignity and respect (second link story)
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for Americans to seek Truth as we investigate our own history of residential boarding schools for Native American children. Pray for Americans to acknowledge, lament, and repent of this stain on our nation's history
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for racism and antisemitism to be rooted from our hearts and actions. Pray for people to be teachable instead of defensive when learning about offensive actions, attitudes, and words
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people to change their language when offensive terms are brought up. 
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for the concerns driving Cubans to protest to be heard and addressed
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for migrants and asylum-seekers to be treated humanely instead of being pushed back to sea (first link) or being left in a legal limbo due to being without documents (second link)
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for concerns of disenfranchisement of eligibile voters to be heard and addressed. Pray for voting laws that allow eligible voters to vote while preventing ineligible voters from voting
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people to have access to food and transportation as inflation continues to rise
Source: Link
Summary: PRAISE: Illinois is the first state to mandate teaching Asian American history
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Canadians to grapple with their country's history with First Nation children in residential schools. Pray for acknowledgement, lament, repentance, and healing to occur
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for workers making minimum wage to be able to afford housing and rent
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people to treat all other people with dignity and respect
Source: Link

Summary: PRAISE: Illinois has passed a law barring police from lying to minors in interrogations. Pray for this to become a national and international law
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for lawmakers to make a just law to address the DREAMERS who fell through the citizenship cracks
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people, particularly those in foster care, to have access to the benefits they are eligible for

Source: Link

A Renewed/Restored World (Natural Disasters)

Summary: Pray for heatwaves and wildfires to end as we better steward the earth and its resources
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for rains to come to end droughts. Pray for all people to have access to clean water
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for Germans and other Europeans as they face flooding and grieve those who have died in the floods
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for cities and areas facing high tide flooding
Source: Link

Healing/Cures for Diseases (Sickness)

Summary: Pray for more effective vaccines and treatments for the virus, as a woman dies of two virus varient infections
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for people to continue to follow safety guidelines until the pandemic is fully over
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for scientists and doctors to be able to test for the long virus symptoms and to prevent people from suffering from it
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for scientists and doctors to be able to prevent rare complications from vaccines
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for places experiencing virus outbreaks and lockdowns
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for people and places uncomfortable with reopening too quickly, as well as the places that are reopening
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people to be freed from addictions and for hospitals to be equipped with caring for people struggling with addictions and overdoses
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for children and teens getting vaccinated, to prevent organ damage from the virus
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people to factcheck before they spread misinformation (and then not spread misinformation)
Source: Link and Link

Restoration/Reconciliation/Redemption (Accidents)

Summary: Pray for families to have closure as the condo recovery discovers more bodies of victims. Pray for forgiveness and compassion for those responsible for the neglect of the building, even as we pray for them to repent
Source: Link and Link and Link

Repentance/Forgiveness/Reconciliation (Mental Anguish/Lament)

Summary: Pray for Haitians to receive justice for their president's assassination. Pray for those grieving his death to choose to forgive instead of growing bitter
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving the 50-60 people who died in a fire in a virus ward in Iraq. Pray for those protesting the conditions that led to the fire to have their concerns addressed

Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the at least 8 people who died in a hotel collapse in China
Source: Link

Now this week's theme might seem like a repeat of last week's, but we are going deeper, further, and bigger in our prayers. We aren't just praying for those who are sick, we are praying for an end to sickness. We aren't just praying for the victims (and perpetrators) of violence, we are praying for hatred, bitterness, and fear to be rooted from our hearts and replaced with love, contentment, and trust. 

How to Pray the News: Praying by Theme/Praying the News Summary 28

Summary: Country of the Week: Morocco

Source: Link

The grouping for this week's prompts is praying by theme. Instead of grouping pray requests by continent, we can group them by the topic. For example, we can pray for those affected by natural disasters, accidents, intentional acts of violence, sickness, and mental anguish/lament. 

Before we jump into this week's headlines, let's take a moment to unpack these categories. Natural disasters include weather events and the destruction caused by them, such as hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, and the like. Accidents involve suffering caused by people, but not intentionally or maliciously. For example, a car accident or a building collapsing due to neglect. Intentional acts of violence are deliberate attacks on a person or people, typically as a result of hate, prejudice, or other negative aspects of our humanity. Examples include attacks on people of Asian descent or Muslim heritage. Sickness includes the pandemic we have been experiencing, as well as health problems caused by unequal access to medical care or poorly constructed utilities that harm residents in an area. Our last main category is mental anguish or lament. There are things in the world that grieve our souls, such as racism and genocide. This is a space to mourn with those who mourn. I did include a bonus miscellaneous category, because there always are exceptions to our attempts to categorize things. 

Natural Disasters

Summary: Pray for those affected by the heatwave and wildfires in the northwest US and Canada. Pray for those without access to running water in the midst of a heatwave
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those affected by wildfires in Cyprus
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those in the path of Tropical Storm Elsa
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those missing after a mudslide in Japan
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those affected by a mud volcano explosion in Azerbaijan
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for Australian farmers as they fight off a plague of mice eating their crops
Source: Link

Accidents

Summary: Building Collapse: Pray for the rescuers, those trapped, and their families as they wait for updates about the Miami condo that collapsed. Pray for the counselors serving the families of the missing and the dead as the search for survivors officially ends

Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Linkq

Intentional Acts of Violence

Summary: Pray for the armed groups to not have stand-offs with the police on the side of an interstate highway
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for a peaceful transition of power as foreign troops leave Afghanistan
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for the 140 schoolchildren who were kidnapped in Nigeria. Pray for the kidnappers to repent and return the children safe and sound
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for a just investigation and trial for the 9 people arrested for a plot to plant bombs around Hong Kong
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those involved in the Capitol Riot to be held accountable for their actions even as we pray for them to repent
Source: Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for Haitians as they undergo turmoil after their president is assassinated. 
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for peace in Venezuela as police and gangs fight
Source: Link

Sickness

Summary: Pray for those in Indonesia facing an oxygen shortage in the midst of the virus surge
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for places that are beginning to reopen, such as the UK
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those struggling with a strict lockdown in Malaysia. PRAISE: people are asking for and receiving help
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those who want the vaccine to be able to get vaccinated. Pray for high vaccination rates
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for rural ambulance services to be able to offer reasonable prices as well as have enough volunteers
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for Australians, especially the children, who are stranded abroad due to the cost of quarantining upon their arrival
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the countries and their citizens waiting for access to vaccines
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people in lockdown in Australia
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for places experiencing the Delta variant of the virus
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for Tokyo, Japan as they are under a virus emergency as the Olympics approach
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for schools preparing to reopen in person
Source: Link

Mental Anguish/Lament

Summary: Pray for those grieving the 50+ people who died when a plane crashed in the Philippines
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving the 43 people attempting to migrate when their boat sunk off the coast of Tunisia

Source: Link

Summary: Pray for a decrease in farmer suicides as many farmers in the Western US deal with drought conditions. Pray for a decline in all suicides
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for those reconsidering the ban on swim caps designed for black athletes in the Olympics. 
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those struggling to keep/find/reclaim their indigenous names
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Palestinians who are unable to claim citizenship in the land where they live (Israel). Pray for eligible people who apply for citizenship to have it granted
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the 28 people presumed dead after plane debris was found in Russia
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for companies to consider paying employees the same amount for fewer hours worked, after a 4 year study in Iceland shows its benefits
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for an end of hate crimes against black people
Source: Link

Summary: PRAISE: A girl became the first African American to win a national spelling bee in the US. Pray for the people who are grieved that it took this long due to unequal educational opportunities
Source: Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for the people grieving 3 people shot dead on a golf course in Georgia
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the women and children who suffer from gender inequality. Pray for gender inequality to end
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for just voting laws that do not make it more difficult for eligible voters to vote 
Source: Link and Link

Summary: PRAISE: the statue which sparked the protests & counterprotests that left a woman dead is being taken down 
Source: Link and Link
Summary: PRAISE: As Broadway reopens, it will feature plays by black playwrights
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the 40 prisoners in Guantanamo, especially the ones who have yet to be charged with a crime and have a trial that convicted them
Source: Link

Whereas last week's theme showed us where a lot of prayer requests were coming from, this week's theme allows us to see that people all around the world are going through the same things that we are experiencing. This allows us to be aware of our connection to people on the opposite side of the globe. 

I hope that we intentionally PRAY FOR the people experiencing these events. If we hear about a disaster or sickness or cause of lament and our response is a prayer of thanksgiving "Thank You Lord that I am safe from this disaster" or "Thank You Lord that my family is not sick", then we are not praying FOR other people. Now you can find this prayer in Scripture, in one of Jesus' parables (the prayer of the tax collector and the Pharisee), but Jesus held up the Pharisee's prayer as an example of how NOT to pray. When Jesus saw people, He was moved with compassion. He did not rejoice that He wasn't crippled or suffering like those around Him. So be sure that we are praying FOR the people involved in these situations. 

How to Pray the News: Praying by Continent/Praying the News Summary 27

Summary: Country of the Week: Tunisia

Source: Link

For the next month, this blog will focus on how to pray for the world by using the news. 

We will look at different themes each week to remind us to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters, as well as non-believers, from around the world.

This week's theme is simply geographically. When you see/hear/read a news article pray for the people undergoing that experience in that area. For simplicity, we will sort the requests by continent.

Many times my prayer summary consists of taking a headline and turning it into a prayer request. So "heatwave in the northwest US" becomes "pray for the people experiencing the heatwave in the northwest US". Take time to pray for different groups involved, especially those on the margins of society who are struggling. So we might add "such as those without central air and people who are working outside". 

Africa

Summary: South Africa: PRAISE: there is a start-up library in a poor neighborhood
Source: Link
Summary: Ethiopia: pray for the civilians caught between the government and a group of rebels fighting for control of cities. Pray for a just peace to pervade the country. Pray for the rebels and government to be able to have just and peaceful negotiations and reach a compromise that is bearable for involved. Pray for those experiencing a famine due to the conflict
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Sub-Saharan Africa: PRAISE: a solar fridge will keep virus vaccines at the proper temperature
Source: Link

Asia

Summary: North Korea: Pray for the people facing both the pandemic and food shortages/famine
Source: Link
Summary: India: Pray that India (the world's largest vaccine producers) can increase the vaccination rate in India
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those missing and hurt in a landslide in Japan
Source: Link

Australia and Oceania

Summary: Australia: Pray for those affected by the rising pandemic cases, such as those under new restrictions and lockdowns
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Europe and the Middle East

Summary: Germany: Pray for those grieving for the 3 women killed in a knife attack. Pray for the attacker to repent of his actions and get the mental help he needs to recover, even as we pray for a just trial and sentencing Pray that other immigrants from Somalia are not treated poorly as a result of this man's actions
Source: Link
Summary: Turkey: Pray for police to use non-violent methods with parades. Pray for LGBTQ+ to be treated humanely
Source: Link

Summary: Iraq and Syria: Pray for those caught in the crossfire as the US targets Iran-backed facilities in Iraq and Syria
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Palestine/Israel/West Bank: Pray for peaceful interactions between the police and protesters. Pray for just and humane negotiations and compromises to be reached that is bearable for both sides
Source: Link

Summary: Afghanistan: Pray for the positive presence of a just peace as US troops pull out of Afghanistan
Source: Link and Link
Summary: UK: Pray for a decline in anti-Semitism in the UK and around the world
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Afghan citizens as they face a 3rd virus wave
Source: Link

North America

Summary: USA: Florida: Pray for the rescuers hunting for survivors in the wreckage of the collapsed building. Pray for the families and friends of the missing anxiously awaiting news. Pray for the missing people to be found alive. Pray for the families grieving the 18 people who had died
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Canada: Pray for those grieving the graves of indigenous children found at residential schools. Pray for the Church and the government to repent, lament, and make amends
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: USA: New Mexico: Pray for those grieving the 5 people killed in a hot air balloon crash. 
Source: Link and Link

Summary: USA/Canada: Northwest: Pray for those experiencing a heat wave in the northwestern US, especially those without central air and those who work outside. Pray for those in the path of the wildfires triggered by the heatwave
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: USA: Iowa: PRAISE: Johnson county, Iowa decided it would pay tribute to the first black woman who earned a PHD in Iowa instead of a former vice president
Source: Link
Summary: USA: Oregon: Pray for black people to have access to the vaccine and be able to get vaccinated before the state fully reopens
Source: Link

Summary: USA: Massachusetts: pray for those grieving the two black men shot and killed by a suspected white supremacist

Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for those who need FEMA aid to be eligible and able to receive it

Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: USA: pray for just voting laws to be enacted. Pray for lawmakers to consider whether their laws are making it more difficult for minority populations to vote
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: USA: pray for Americans to have discussions about peaceful protests and why those in minority populations are protesting. Pray for Americans to seek a positive peace that has the presence of justice, instead of a negative peace where those who feel marginalized and oppressed are expected to stay silent

Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for a decline in hate groups in the US (and around the world too)
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for the state and federal governments to work together. Pray for the workers caught between these two groups
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for the government and US citizens to consider the implict messaging the Confederate statues send and what message we want to communicate, and then for appropriate adjustments to be made
Source: Link
Summary: USA: pray for there to be an increase in workers in the home health care businesses
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for court/sentencing and prison reforms so that teens will not be sent to adult prisons
Source: Link

Summary: USA: PRAISE: The US Supreme Court leaves the CDC moratorium on evictions in place
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for the people without Medicaid due to a gap between state and federal support. Pray that the cracks in the system will be closed
Source: Link
Summary: USA: pray for just trials, fair sentencing, and repentance by those involved in the Capitol Riots
Source: Link and Link

Summary: USA: pray for a decline of racial profiling and an increase of accountability for wrong actions
Source: Link and Link

Summary: USA: PRAISE: the US is pausing federal execution. Pray for the death penalty to be abolished in the US and around the world
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for businesses to consider ways to encourage workers to apply. Pray for an increase in wages, so that every worker can afford to pay their bills and rent
Source: Link
Summary: USA: PRAISE: there is a new monument to honor Ida B Wells (a civil rights activist)
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for black people to feel safe while hiking or doing other mundane activities
Source: Link

Summary: USA: pray for those in the path of a hurricane
Source: Link

South America

Multi-Continental

Summary: Virus Updates from around the world
Source: Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for countries, corporations, and global citizens to steward the earth so future generations can survive

Source: Link

Summary: Pray for lagging numbers of girls in schools to be increased
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people, especially in the healthcare field, to have access to good quality masks
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people who are struggling emotionally and mentally in the pandemic
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for governments and organizations to protect their immuno-compromised groups
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people to follow masking guidelines in order to protect the vulnerable
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the people who are hesitant to get the vaccine, but need to be vaccinated to keep their jobs
Source: Link

Once we have our prayer list, it is good to note the holes in our list. This week, there were no news stories about people in South America, so take a moment to pray for general things for them. 

Note the requests that have a lot of articles. This is a story that has a lot of updates and is a hot news stories. 

This is one way that we can pray the news

Praying the News Summary 26

Summary: Country of the Week: Turkey

Source: Link

Racial Injustice

Summary: Pray for discussions on Confederate monuments, such as Stone Mountain. Pray for wisdom and creativity in dealing with monuments elevating the Confederacy
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for people to learn about the history of Juneteenth and Harriet Tubman
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the US and Canada to reckon with their history of religious residental schools for indigenous children and the abuses that took place at them. 600+ graves were found at another residential school
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for previously redlined areas to be invested in and to have green spaces created
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Derek Chauvin to repent. Pray for those upset with the sentencing
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link
Summary: Pray for an increase in home ownership by black people
Source: Link

Other Requests

Summary: Pray for those injured by a vehicle that crashed into a bike race
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for peace in Myanmar
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people to care for the environment and switch to sustainable practices, so environments such as the Great Barrier Reef (in the 2nd link) will continue to host diverse plant and animal life
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for those in the paths of storms and tropical depressions
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those grieving the 12 people who died in a 15 vehicle crash in Alabama
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving a person killed and those injured by a vehicle crashing into spectators at a pride parade in Florida
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for peace in Afghanistan as troops continue to withdraw
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for a decline in police officer deaths. Pray for drivers to notice cops by the road, so they can all stay safe
Source: Link 

Summary: Pray for a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Pray for negotiations to provide safety, protection, and a future to both groups
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for those grieving a police officer and a civilian shot & killed by a gunman in Colorado
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for a decline in gun violence. Pray creativity in coming up with alternative, safer ways of policing, as well as police reforms
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for the people in migrant camps and detention centers to be treated humanely. Pray for the people seeking asylum to have their cases heard
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for just trials to take place
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for those who were involved in the Capitol Riot to be held accountable for their actions and for them to repent
Source: Link and Link

Summary: Pray for people with mental health problems to have access to good and humane treatment
Source: Link

Summary: PRAISE: The US will evacuate thousands of Afghan interpreters before troop withdrawal
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for a decline in suicide rates, in both the military and non-military life
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those suffering from tinnitus
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for those missing (and those searching for the missing) after a building collapsed in Miami
Source: Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for just election reforms that do not add undue hardship to eligible voters trying to vote
Source: Link and Link
Summary: Pray for people's hate to not be expressed in physical attacks and murder. Pray for marginalized groups at the receiving end of this hate
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Join Nazarene Compassionate Ministry in praying for recent events and projects.
Source: Link

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Update

The latest global numbers from John Hopkins: Link
The latest US numbers from the CDC: Link
Summary: Live Updates:
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for Brazilians as they grieve 500,000 virus deaths
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for those concerned about the spread of virus varients
Source: Link and Link and Link

Summary: Pray for places experiencing a virus surge, such as Buddhist monasteries in India
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people who have quit their jobs (or were fired) over the issue of vaccines to find new jobs
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people to continue to get vaccinated
Source: Link
Summary: Pray for New Zealanders after a person visiting tested positive
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for the people who have had long-lasting/enduring virus symptoms
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people under new mask mandates (in Israel in the article)
Source: Link

Summary: Pray for people in new lockdowns and/or under new mask restrictions
Source: Link and Sydney