Pray for Texas: A Land of Opportunity and Challenges

As Texans, we are blessed to live in a land of great opportunity and diversity. But with opportunities come challenges, and our state faces some of its toughest tests. We will address our great state’s challenges and the importance of praying together for Texas. Let us work together in hope and faith toward a better future for all Texans.

Psalm 121:1-2

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?

2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

This is our declaration when we lift Texas to the Lord. Our help and hope come from Him. No matter our challenges, we know He holds us in His hands and will sustain us.

Quick Brief

Population: According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s QuickFacts, the population of Texas was 29,145,505 in 2020, the most recent data available [1]. However, some sources suggest that the population of Texas has been steadily increasing in recent years. A report by the Texas Demographic Center, based on Census Bureau estimates, states that the estimated population in Texas has grown nearly 15% from 2010 to 2018 [6]. Furthermore, according to Statista, the population of Texas was around 30.03 million as of 2021 [8].

GDP: According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Texas state sales tax revenue for January 2022 hit an all-time high of $4.11 billion, up 6.6% compared to the same month in the previous year [1]. The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) also reports that Texas had the second-highest Gross State Product (GSP) in the nation as of 2020, after California, making it the second-largest state economy in the country [6]. The CIA World Factbook also ranks Texas as the 11th largest economy in the world based on GDP (PPP) for 2021, with a GDP of $2.91 trillion [3]. However, none of the sources indicated a GDP figure of $1,716.6 billion for Texas. Therefore, it is advisable to verify the accuracy of the original claim.

Leadership

Greg Abbott is the governor of Texas, serving since 2015. He has previously served as the state’s attorney general and a Supreme Court justice.[5]

Ron Nirenberg is the mayor of San Antonio, Texas. He has been serving in this office since 2017. Mayor Nirenberg has a journalism and public relations background and has been actively involved in the community for many years.[2].

Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are the senators for Texas. Senator Cruz has served in this office since 2013, and Senator Cornyn since 2002. Both senators are Republicans and have extensive experience in public service.[1].

Economy

Texas has one of the largest and most diverse economies in the United States [1]. The state has many industries, including energy, agriculture, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. Texas also has a thriving business climate and favorable regulatory environment, attracting numerous businesses and entrepreneurs [1].

The state’s most significant export categories include machinery, computer and electronic products, and chemicals [1]. In 2020, Texas was the top exporting state in the US, accounting for 16.8% of all US exports and shipping $279.3 billion worth of goods overseas [1].

Major employers in Texas include the oil and gas industry, which significantly contributes to the state’s economy [1]. The healthcare sector is another major employer, with Texas having some of the largest healthcare systems in the country, including the Baylor Scott & White Health and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center [2]. Additionally, retail is a significant employer in Texas, with several large retail chains, such as Walmart and H-E-B, having a strong presence in the state [1].

Healthcare

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Texas ranks 44th out of 50 states for healthcare access, with only 59.1% of residents having access to a regular doctor. The state’s relatively low rate of healthcare coverage is primarily attributed to its decision not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, 17.7% of Texas’ adult population has a fair or poor health status, higher than the national average [4].

Texas is making significant investments in healthcare, with a growing number of medical facilities and resources [4]. In recent years, the state has increased funding for mental health services, including crisis hotlines and support for veterans, and expanded telemedicine options to improve access to care for rural communities [7]. Texas is also home to some of the country’s top-ranked hospitals and healthcare facilities, such as the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center [4]. However, it is worth noting that Texas has faced criticism for its overall healthcare spending, with some reports ranking the state as last in the nation for spending on mental healthcare [9]

Peace/Safety

Texas has well-staffed police forces [1]. According to recent data, Texas has the country’s second-highest mental healthcare provider shortage rate, with only Alabama ranking lower [1]. Moreover, in 2020, Texas had the highest number of reported rapes of any state in the US, with 13,509 reported cases [2].

Regarding taxes and regulations, while it is true that Texas has lower taxes and fewer regulations than many other states, it is not accurate to say that it has the lowest taxes and regulations in the US [3].

Additionally, some areas in Texas are indeed facing challenges with crime. For example, in Houston, murders increased by 45% in 2021, and in Fort Worth, they increased by 59% [4]. However, it is worth noting that the overall increase in aggravated assaults in Texas was less than in New York in 2021 [7].

Biggest challenges

Texas faces several challenges, including economic inequality, healthcare access, and immigration [1]. Mental health care access is also a concern, as Texas ranks last in the US with a rate of 830:1 for mental health providers to population ratio [1]. In terms of crime, Texas had the highest number of reported rapes in 2020, with 13,509 cases, but this is partly due to the state’s high population [2]. However, the state also has a strong economy, high employment rates, and diverse industries [1][4].

Transportation and environmental sustainability are also areas of concern in Texas, as the state’s rapid population growth has strained infrastructure and natural resources. Furthermore, Texas has a history of conflict with Mexico over immigration issues [6]. However, the state has made efforts to address cybersecurity concerns and has established a strong cybersecurity workforce and training pipeline [7].

Prayer Points for Texas

Jeremiah 29:7

7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

• We pray for economic justice and equality in Texas, that all residents would have access to fair wages, affordable housing, and opportunities for growth and prosperity. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” – Isaiah 1:17 [1]
• We pray for improved access to healthcare in Texas, that all residents would have access to quality medical care regardless of their income or background. “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” – Matthew 10:8 [2]
• We pray for protection for immigrants and refugees in Texas, that they would be welcomed and supported in their new homes. “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:33-34 [3]
• We pray for wise stewardship of the environment in Texas, that the state’s natural resources would be protected and preserved for future generations. “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” – Psalm 24:1 [4]
• We pray for an end to gun violence in Texas, that communities would be safe and free from fear. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” – Matthew 5:9 [5]
• We pray for an end to human trafficking in Texas, that all those who are enslaved or exploited would be set free. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.” – Luke 4:18 [6]
• We pray for racial reconciliation in Texas, and that divisions between different ethnic and cultural groups would be healed. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 [7]
• We pray for increased access to education in Texas and that all children and young people would have the opportunity to learn and grow. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 [8]
• We pray for ending economic inequality in Texas and for policies that promote fairness and prosperity for everyone regardless of income or social status. (Proverbs 22:16)
• We pray for improved access to quality healthcare in Texas, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations, and the resources to support healthcare workers and facilities across the state. (Isaiah 58:6-8)
• We pray for compassionate and just immigration policies in Texas that respect the dignity and rights of all people and for support for migrants and refugees in need. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
• We pray for protecting of Texas’s natural environment, including its land, air, and water, and for the wisdom and resources to steward these precious resources well. (Psalm 24:1-2)
• We pray for Texas to be a beacon of hope, love, and peace in a world that is often filled with darkness, hatred, and violence. May God’s light shine brightly in this state, bringing healing, reconciliation, and transformation. (Matthew 5:14-16)

Let us unite in faith, lifting up Texas and its inhabitants to our Heavenly Father, who hears and answers our prayers.