Give Him 15 is joining a 40-day national call to prayer before the 2018 Midterm Elections. Here is today’s Focus:
Day 25 – An Ongoing Call to Pray for America’s National Security: Nuclear Expansion in Russia and China
“He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire.” (Psalm 46:9; NIV)
“Russia presents the greatest threat to our national security,” General Joseph Dunford affirmed in his congressional hearing to become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, our highest military officer. With its large nuclear arsenal, destabilizing role in Ukraine, threat to NATO nations on its borders, and involvement in the Syrian civil war, Russia presents a significant challenge. “If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I would have to point to Russia,” Dunford said. “And if you look at their behavior, it’s nothing short of alarming.”
Dunford said China falls right behind Russia because of their growing military might and aggressive behavior throughout the Asia-Pacific. They are investing in a massive military build-up to challenge US dominance in the region, erecting artificial islands for possible military use, and demanding territorial rights disputed by their neighbors, most of whom are our allies.
Threats to US space services will increase as potential adversaries pursue destructive counter-space capabilities. Both Chinese and Russian military leaders are developing the ability to disrupt US use of space in a conflict by damaging and destroying those satellites upon which the US is so dependent for its reconnaissance and communication systems. They also now have a lead in developing hypersonic missiles that go at five times the speed of sound and could threaten our ability to respond to attack.
Some Russian agents interfered with the last election, though not enough to affect the outcome. Also the Chinese have stolen large amounts of American military and other kinds of technology which they can now use against us.
Points for Prayer:
Let’s pray for a better, closer relationship with these two great powers and that our government and diplomats will have wisdom to pursue it towards greater trust and world peace.
Pray for our Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, as well as our Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, in close cooperation with President Trump and his team so that this potential threat can be turned around into a mutually beneficial friendship among our three nations.
Ask the Lord for the development of more advanced military technologies and war-readiness that will keep Russia and China from wanting to try and take advantage of the USA by provoking a military conflict of any kind.
Be mindful of the strong movements of Christians in both Russia and China; let us pray that they will rise to positions of favor and influence in their governments, so our international relations will be increasingly shaped by Christian values, not dictatorial (Russia) or communist ones (China).
By John Robb
Co-Convener, National Prayer Assembly
Chairman, International Prayer Council