UNITED WE STAND
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven: . . ." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
In prayer, our Lord has shown that the time has now arrived to lift the "Siege Alerts" that we have been posting daily since November 4th. God has heard our prayers, and in His time, they will be answered.
We now continue posting the Daily Brief, as always, but we will add a Friday edition to our schedule as well. And, the Legislative Snapshot will also be posted each weekend, whenever Congress is in session.
Thank you all for being so faithful to remain on the wall with us, for the protection of our nation and of our Constitution. God bless you all!
Sara Ballenger
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
info@capitolhillprayer.org
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
The Daily Brief
"Praying for All in Authority"
Thursday, January 21, 2021
"I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected."
(Habakkuk 2:1)
> > > To help sustain our work, please go here. Thank you!
> > > How To Subscribe
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at info@capitolhillprayer.org requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.
WELCOME!
“Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ
Today’s Top Story
Trump departs White House, tells supporters in final address as president:
'We will be back in some form'
President Trump on Wednesday morning told supporters that "we will be back in some form" after he departed the White House for the final time as president, just hours ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Biden.
Trump made the comments at Joint Base Andrews as he was about to fly to Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Trump landed on Air Force One in Florida with about one hour left in his term.
As Trump walked to the podium in Joint Base Andrews, he was greeted by a 21-gun salute with ceremonial artillery. In his remarks, he touted his administration's accomplishments. "We left it all on the field," Trump said of his time as president. "What we've done has been amazing by any standard," he said.
Trump mentioned the Space Force, tax cuts, judicial appointments, stock market record highs and more. First Lady Melania Trump also made brief remarks.
"You're gonna see incredible numbers start coming in if everything is left alone, Trump said. "Be careful."
"I hope they don't raise your taxes, but if they do I told you so," Trump said.
Potentially foreshadowing more involvement in politics to come, Trump said "we will be back in some form." There's been speculation that Trump could run for president in 2024, or that he may start his own political party. (Fox News) Read more.
- Father God, we thank You for President Donald John Trump. In spite of the turbulence of the past few weeks, he has left behind a legacy of nonstop blessings
for our people. May we always remember the good that he has done while he has served our people as the President of the United States. Amen.
- "In everything, give thanks . . . " (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Focus on Israel
1. Secretary of State-designate: Jerusalem is Israel's capital, the embassy will remain there - Israel National News
Antony Blinken, US President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for Secretary of State, said at a confirmation hearing on Tuesday that the Biden administration would not move the US embassy from Jerusalem.
Blinken, who spoke to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was asked by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) if he believes that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and if the Biden administration will keep the US Embassy there.
Blinken replied “yes” to both questions.
Trump moved the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in May of 2018, fulfilling his campaign promise to do so. The move angered the Palestinian Authority, which last year submitted a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for legal action against the US over the embassy relocation. Read more
2. Gantz blocks Netanyahu’s ‘irresponsible’ push to legalize West Bank outposts - Times of Israel
After the government approved almost 800 new housing units in West Bank settlements this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday tried to also legalize six unrecognized outposts, but was thwarted by Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
The proposal came a day before the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden, potentially further complicating the start of Jerusalem’s relations with the new administration. The approval of the settler homes has received widespread international attention and been condemned by the Palestinians, the European Union and the UN, among others.
Tuesday’s cabinet meeting had been scheduled to only discuss the coronavirus crisis and the extension of a nationwide lockdown, but on Tuesday morning Netanyahu tried to put on the agenda a proposal that would include the recognition of the communities of Avigayil, Asael, Kedem Arava, Metzoke Deragot, Ovnat (currently considered a neighborhood of Mitzpeh Shalem) and Tel Tzion, which are deemed illegal under current Israeli law, according to ministers in Gantz’s Blue and White party. (Read more)
3. IDF Tanks Strike Hamas Positions in Response to Continued Rocket Fire - Algemeiner
JNS.org – Israeli tanks struck Hamas military positions in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday in response to the firing of a rocket into Israeli territory on Tuesday night, the Israeli military said in a statement.
The rocket, the third fired into Israel since Sunday, came down in open territory near Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the Gaza border, according to Channel 12.
On Monday, IDF fighter jets struck “tunnel-digging workshops” in Gaza in response to a pair of rockets fired at Ashdod on Sunday night, according to the military.No casualties or damage have been reported from any of the attacks. The rockets fired at Ashdod landed in the sea. (Read more)
4. Friedman: Israel needs 'guard rails' against Chinese investment - Jerusalem Post
Israel still has work to do to ensure its security when it comes to Chinese involvement in sensitive technologies and major infrastructure projects, former ambassador David Friedman warned this week.
“I think this will be an ongoing, dynamic issue between the US and Israel,” Friedman said in his final days as ambassador. “I think Israelis understand the threat China presents to the world.”
Friedman added that “guardrails have to be strengthened in terms of Chinese malign investment,” but that Israel is “in a better place” than it was in when the US began working with Israel on the issue.
“I think it will evolve to a better and better place as we get more sophisticated,” he said. “It’s an evolutionary process; it’s dynamic.”
(Read more)
5. A lawyer from California has published a call for Iran to wipe out the Jews - Israel National News
California lawyer Farhad Khorasani had been cleared of wrongdoing by the California Bar Association’s disciplinary panel, despite social media posts deriding the Holocaust, praising Adolf Hitler, and calling on Iran to carry out a genocide against Jews.
Although the posts in question have already been removed or blocked from the sites on which they were posted, screenshots of the posts by a legal associate were submitted to the bar along with a complaint to have him disciplined or disbarred. The bar concluded an investigation with the verdict “no actionable conduct."
One such post accuses worldwide Jewry of using the historical spectacle of the Holocaust as a ‘tool to be manipulated’, while others blame the Israeli Mossad for assassinating an Iranian nuclear scientist. Khorasani calls this an ‘act of war’ and calls on Iran to lead the way in wiping out the Jews. (Read more)
6. Insight for Intercessors: Special Report
To read today's report, please go here.
The Daily Brief
1. Religious makeup of the 117th Congress is 88% Christian - Christian Post
The 117th United States Congress is made up of 88% Christians, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center.
In a report called “Faith on the Hill,” the Pew Research Center analyzed the religious affiliations of all 531 members of the 117th Congress and compared them to the religious demographics of the U.S. as a whole. Pew obtained the data from a questionnaire conducted by CQ Roll Call asking members about their religious backgrounds.
The publication of the Pew report came just one day after the 117th Congress was sworn into session on Jan. 3. Pew has been analyzing the religious composition of members of Congress since the 111th Congress, which met from 2009 to 2011.
Four hundred and sixty-eight (88%) of members of the 117th Congress are Christian, compared to 65% of the American public as a whole. A majority of the Christians on Capitol Hill identify as Protestant. While 55% of lawmakers in the 117th Congress are Protestants, just 43% of the American public identifies as such. (Read more)
- Lord God we pray a special blessing upon the believers that truly follow You in this new Congress in Washington DC. We ask that You would fill them up with a bold spirit full of strength and courage to stand true to Your values and Your principles that they will not cave to the evil that may try to seduce them. We plead the blood of Jesus over them that they are protected wherever they go and give them the spirit of wisdom and the discerning of spirits as they go on their journey. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
- “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
2. MSNBC contributor compares Biden to God, suggests Trump voters should be blamed for COVID deaths - Fox News
An emotional MSNBC panel showered Biden with praise during its coverage of the coronavirus memorial event on the National Mall that honored the 400,000 American lives lost so far to the pandemic.
A teary-eyed Glaude applauded Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for "pulling the grief and regret out of the privacy of our hearts for a moment so that we all could share it."
"I'm thinking about all those folks who, just for a moment, the nation shared their grief," Glaude told MSNBC anchor Nicolle Wallace. "I'm reminded of the Psalmist, you know, 'He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,'" Glaude added.
"You know, we're at a crossroads as a nation," Glaude said. "It's easy for us to place all of the blame on Donald Trump. He makes it easy for us, you know? He does. But there were 75, 74-plus million people who voted for him. Selfishness, greed, you know, they run rampant across the land, but you know, there's something that President-elect Biden said: 'To heal is to remember. To heal is to remember.” (Read more)
- We plead the blood of Jesus over these idol curse words that have been spoken over President Trump, his supporters and fellow Christians, and we break their powers In Jesus namer. We separate the evil working through this particular anchor and The media that evil can no longer have a strong hold over the media in Jesus name amen.
- “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (Matthew 12:36)
3. Donald Trump Announces Pardons and Commutations for 143 People in Last Hours of Presidency - Brietbart
The president issued 73 pardons and 70 commutations.
The list included pop culture figures including rapper Lil Wayne, who was pardoned, and Kodak Black, whose sentence was commuted. The president also pardoned several Republicans, including former Deputy National Finance Chair of the Republican National Committee Elliott Broidy, former Rep. Duke Cunningham of California, and former Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona.
He also issued a pardon for his former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, who was charged with fraud for his work on the “We Build the Wall” crowdfunding campaign fueled by Trump supporters to build a wall on the Southern border.
Trump’s list also included many nonviolent drug offenders sentenced to prison. (Read more)
- Lord God we pray for each and everyone of these lives that President Trump has pardoned that You would reveal Yourself to them and visit them. Show them who You are, Lord Jesus. Give them experiential knowledge of You that the eyes of their hearts may be flooded with light. May each one be saved and live out their purpose that You have destined them to live. Jesus name amen.
- “...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5)
4. Social Media Faces Reckoning as Trump Ban Shatters 'Neutral' Facade - Newsmax
Social media giants crossed a threshold in banning President Donald Trump and an array of his supporters -- and now face a quandary on defining their efforts to remain politically neutral while promoting democracy and free speech.
After Jan. 6, with its unprecedented violence in the seat of Congress, Trump was banned for allegedly inciting the rioters -- on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Google-owned YouTube and Snapchat. The alternative network Parler, which drew many Trump backers, was forced offline by Amazon's web services unit.
The bans broke new ground for internet firms but also shattered the longstanding notion that they are simply neutral platforms open for all to express any views.
Internet firms are likely to face heightened calls for regulation following the recent turmoil. crisis. "This situation absolutely reveals the power of platform companies to make decisions on who gets hurt in the public sphere," Kreiss said. (Read more)
- Lord God, we respect private companies and their policies but we recognize that these social media giants are protected and partly funded by the government and that causes great concern for their ability to shut down speech and beliefs they do not agree with. We pray they either stay true to their word on being neutral or loose their ability to be protected by the government in Jesus name. Amen.
- “You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you." (Deuteronomy 6:18)
5. Trump’s 1776 Commission releases report denouncing ‘problems of progressive education,’ 1619 Project - Christian Post
The Trump administration’s 1776 Commission has released a report denouncing “the problems of progressive education” and recent endeavors like the 1619 Project, which has been denounced by some historians.
Titled “The 1776 Report” and released on Monday, the report derided far-left intellectual influences on American education, starting in the 1960s and into the present day.
“This new education replaced humane and liberal education in many places, and alienated Americans from their own nature, their own identities, and their own place and time,” read the report, in part. (Read more)
- Lord God we come against the communist spirit that has infiltrated the United States and its educational system to mind control this next generation and we say no more in the name of Jesus Christ! We pray this spirit be revealed, unraveled, and completely separated from its hosts so It can no longer work and have its ways in our educational system. Amen.
- “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4)
6. Trump admin. declares China’s persecution of Uyghur Muslims ‘genocide’ - Christian Post
The United States has officially designated China’s persecution of Muslim minorities in western Xinjiang Province — including mass internment, forced labor, and forced sterilization — as “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.”
“After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released Tuesday.
“I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state,” Pompeo said, adding that the CCP — which he described as a “Marxist-Leninist regime that exerts power over the long-suffering Chinese people through brainwashing and brute force” — is "engaged in the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group." (Read more)
- Thank you Lord God for bringing China’s gross abuse to all kinds of peoples and religions to light. We bind this communist spirit that is working throughout the world and we break its powers and say you cannot come to the United States in Jesus name amen.
- “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. “ (Job 12:22)
.7. Trump administration issues last-minute Arctic refuge drilling leases - Reuters
The Trump administration said on Tuesday it had issued drilling leases on more than 400,000 acres (160,000 hectares) of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), delivering on a promise to fossil-fuel proponents on President Donald Trump’s last full day in office.
Formal issuance of the leases by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management came a day before the inauguration of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, who has pledged to protect the 19.6-million-acre (7.9-million-hectare) habitat for polar bears and caribou and to ban new oil and gas leasing on federal lands.
Lease holders would still need to seek permits from the new administration before any wells could be drilled, among other challenges. (Read more)
- Lord God we pray that you give the Biden administration heavenly strategies on how to keep the United States energy independent while providing jobs for Americans so that they can make a living and feed their families. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
- "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him... " (Psalm 37:5)
8. Trump in farewell address prays for Biden’s success in ‘keeping America safe - Washington Examiner
As President Trump prepares to leave office, he issued a farewell address boasting of “tough battles” and American “values, history, and heroes” and wishing for the new administration's "success in keeping America safe and prosperous."
"I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights, the most difficult choices — because that's what you elected me to do," Trump said in a prerecorded video made public on his final full day in office.
He acknowledges the transfer in his statement, which calls on people to "pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous." (Read more)
- We agree with this statement Lord and pray together as the body of Christ that the Biden administration will adhere to your wisdom and make the choices necessary to continue to keep America and its citizens safe from enemies both foreign and domestic in Jesus name we pray amen.
- ” . . .not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:4)
9. Trump formally declassifies Russia documents over objections of FBI - Just The News
Just hours before departing office, President Trump on Tuesday evening formally completed the declassification of a large trove of Russia probe documents, overruling objections posed by the FBI in a last bid effort to keep memos secret.
Trump revealed in a statement issued by the White House that the materials were not previously shared with Congress or the public and he received them on Dec. 30 in a binder, determining they ought to be made public. The binder is about a foot tall, according to officials who have seen it.
"I determined that the materials in that binder should be declassified to the maximum extent possible," the president said. The effort to release the materials, however, hit a bump when the FBI objected on Sunday to a complete release of the information. The president nonetheless ordered them released but allowed for some modest redactions to be made. (Read more)
- Thank you for God for the release of these truths by president Trump. We pray that the crimes committed would not go unpunished and individuals would be held accountable for their treasonous acts in Jesus name. Amen.
- " said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed." (Eccl. 3:17)
10. Schumer becomes new Senate majority leader - The Hill
Sen. Charles Schumer (D) has achieved his long-held dream of becoming Senate majority leader after three new Democrats were sworn into the Senate by Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday following President Biden's inauguration.
The victories by Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in Georgia earlier this month create a 50-50 party split in the upper chamber and give Democrats the majority because Vice President-elect Kamala Harris is the tie-breaking vote.
After falling short in 2016 and again in November, Schumer has finally ousted his nemesis, current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who raised tens of millions of dollars himself to stave off the Democratic takeover.
"What a good morning it is. We sure did not take the most direct path to get here but here we are," an exultant Schumer said the Wednesday morning after the Georgia runoffs, shortly after issuing a statement declaring that Democrats would recapture control of the Senate after six years in the minority. (Read more)
- Lord God we pray Chuck Schumer bows down, repents, and seeks your face in order to better serve the Senate. Let him remember those that he took to the constitution and to the citizens of this great nation in Jesus name amen.
- “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26)
IFA Today
We thank Dave Kubal and his leadership team for granting us permission to visit their blog daily for in-depth analyses of key issues at hand. For an overview of today's topics, visit their blog by going here.
The Daily Jot
The tyrannical persecution of dissent
With national leaders hiding behind miles of razor wire, chain fences and 25,000-plus troops to swear in President Joe Biden*, the atmosphere is far from healing the country as Trump supporters, voters, conservatives and Christians are now the target of the left. Leaders and key influencers of leftist politics are suggesting a wide range of actions to punish Trump voters, including labeling all those who voted for Trump as “domestic terrorists,” establishing a federally-mandated Truth Commission, advocating the shut-down of Fox News for election fraud coverage, the censorship of Members of Congress for questioning the validity of election results, and preventing those who worked for Trump from getting jobs.
For example, CNN wrote a story about how the leader of the Proud Boys got $300 from Christian funding site GiveSendGo.com for his trip to protest in Washington, DC, and is raising thousands for his legal defense. Additionally, CNN reported that the founder of Gateway Pundit is using the site to fund a voter fraud investigation in Michigan and oppose corporate censorship of conservative voices. CNN is implying that all Christians support Proud Boys. CNN is also vilifying Christians for fomenting domestic terrorism by questioning election integrity and censorship of conservatives. In the coming months, this theme will no doubt be further weaponized against any dissenting voices, especially Christians.
In a January 18 Washington Post Op-Ed, columnist and CNN global affairs analyst Max Boot wrote: “Just as we do with foreign terrorist groups, so with domestic terrorists: We need to shut down the influencers who radicalize people and set them on the path toward violence and sedition.” Boot also suggested Fox News be shut down because it was “spreading false claims” about election fraud. Leftist activist Don Winslow in a video called for an “army of citizen detectives” to use computers to hunt down conservative domestic terrorists who are “hidden among us, disguised behind regular jobs. They are your children’s teachers. They work at supermarkets, malls, doctor’s offices, and many are police officers and soldiers.”
All conservatives are being broad-brushed as domestic terrorists because a handful of radicals broke into the Capitol. The broader truth is that some 74 million voters want definitive answers about election integrity. IF there was no election integrity issue, why wouldn’t the left call for a complete investigation to set the issue to rest? The censorship, persecution and visceral displayed by the left’s influencers, leaders, and corporate minions is tyrannical. This theme will no doubt be further weaponized against any dissenting voices in the months ahead. Instead of healing, there is persecution. As in 1 Peter 4:12, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” It is time for the Light of Christ to shine brighter than ever through each of us. Pray. Stand fast. Speak truth. Be wise.
Prayers for the Persecuted Church
"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3)
Please visit the website for International Christian Concern to lift up prayers for the persecuted around the world, every day. Their link is: www.persecution.org -- or go here to connect. Thank you for interceding for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Asia, the Islamic World, and the Far East.
Nightly Prayer Call Over Election Results
We invite you to join a NIGHTLY prayer call with Rick Warzywak, Prayer leader for Transform Michigan. The call is focused on prayer over the Presidential election results and is EVERY NIGHT from 9-10pm EST.
Call 727-731-2247 no access code needed.
For more info, visit their website at: https://transformmi.com/
About CHPP
About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Our Mission Statement
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
Because Jesus Christ has shed His blood for all, we, too, pray for ALL, in a nonpartisan manner. Also, because the scriptures indicate that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 4:17), we are confident that fervent prayer, offered in the halls of the highest chambers of government in our land, can avail much for America. Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes those who feel called to join us, engaging in this strategic work of intercession for our nation: "For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." [Romans 13:1]
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes all who wish to pray for our leaders to join us in prayer for our nation. You may sign up to receive our alerts by sending an email to us at info@capitolhillprayer.org requesting that your name be added to our list of subscribers.
We Welcome Your Gifts
We Welcome Your Gifts
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a 501(c)(3), tax- exempt, faith-based, ministry, dedicated to praying for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). CHPP relies solely on the gifts of our readers to continue this work; thus we greatly appreciate your help in supporting this publication. Offerings may be sent to: Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, P.O. Box 5152, Herndon, VA 20172-1970. Please make checks payable to: CHPP. THANK YOU!
DONATE ONLINE!
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https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=3B77E058-983E-4415-AA4E-2F82ED1A4DEA#
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philippians 4:23)
Welcome to Our Bible Readathon
Welcome to our Bible Readathon!
Nonstop reading of the Word of God, every night (except on Sunday mornings) from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EDT.
To learn more about the Bible Readathon, please go here.
WELCOME!
