October 12, 2025
Welcome to Praying the News!
Today’s reflection and prayer is a response to the National Guard’s deployment in cities across America and the resulting political pushback. Need to catch up? Read the headlines in The Pour Over on October 10th (Chicago & Portland), September 29th (Portland & L.A.), September 15th (Memphis), and August 18th (D.C.).
Happy Sunday,
We’re nearly two months into the saga of federal troops entering American cities for crime crackdowns. As with every other politically charged issue, believers aim to take our cues from Scripture—not politicians, media personalities, social media influencers, or that one opinionated friend. Whatever your political stripe, consider these two truths:
The government is part of God’s plan to protect the innocent and maintain order: “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad.” (Romans 13:2-3, ESV)
You may say, “What if authorities misuse that power?” That’s where #2 comes in: “Woe to those who decree iniquitous decrees, and the writers who keep writing oppression, to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right… What will you do on the day of punishment, in the ruin that will come from afar?” (Isaiah 10:1-3, ESV)
God will take care of leaders who misuse their authority. He will judge those who govern oppressively and those who sit by passively while the wicked hurt the vulnerable. It’s profoundly good news that justice is ultimately in God’s hands, because He sees all, doesn’t play favorites, and always gets justice just right.
Commit justice into His hands:
God our Rock,
You are righteous and true.1
Your Law is perfect, and Your enforcement is perfectly just.
You never overstep, never abuse Your power, never wade into a gray area.
All Your ways are right.2
Help our leaders to walk in the light, as You are in the light.3
Purify any areas of corruption and pride.
Straighten crooked paths,4 so that good works multiply
and evil works are snuffed out.
Give President Trump, these governors, and local leaders wisdom and humility
to pursue the common good rather than their own interests.
Strengthen officers to walk in righteousness and courage;5
make the courts impartial and discerning as they respond to legal challenges;
embolden me to protect the rights of my vulnerable neighbors;6 and
position your people as beacons of peace and hope amid political turmoil.7
As we wait for Your final justice to make all things right,
we praise You for Your inexhaustible patience
and Your eagerness to show us mercy.8
We adore You because we will each stand in Your courtroom
and find that the verdict is “guilty on all counts,”
but the sentence has already been served.9
Yours in Christ,
Steph Juliot
Further Reading
Prayer Requests Dropbox
How can we pray for you? Click here to leave us a prayer request. Our staff will pray for each one.
Questions or comments about this edition? Hit reply and let us know.
Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here.