By Joseph Ametepe
Invisible and Immutable Father, we bless you for the gift of the new month of September 2026. Indeed, it’s all because of Your amazing grace and abundant goodness toward us, that we are blessed to enter it. Also, it’s because of Your amazing grace and abundant goodness toward us, that we’ll experience and enjoy what You’ve prepared for us in it. O Lord, how we thank You for Your gifts of “life and breath and all things,” (Acts 17:25), without which our existence on earth would have ended in August 2026. In fact, each breath we take is a reminder of Your blessed gift of physical life. For it was You who breathed into Adam’s nostrils, our family head, “the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7; NASB).
We give You all the praise
Truly, we give You all the praise and honor for being our loving Father! Yes, a loving Father, who wants the very best for us, in this life and in the life soon to come. Indeed, there is no god like You. For You declared: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me” (Isaiah 44:6b; NASB). Indeed, You are in a distinguished class all by Yourself! You, O Lord, are exalted high above all! Indeed, You are “the Most High [who] is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever [You] wish” (Daniel 4:25; NASB). You are the God who “does according to [Your] will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off [Your] hand or say to [You], ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:35; NASB)!
We appreciate You
We appreciate You for Your constant and compassionate care and concern for us. Also, we acknowledge that Your ways with us are always righteous and true. Your dealings with us are always with love. Yes, Your unconditional, undying, unending, unfailing, unlimited, unquenchable, unrelenting, and unwavering love. But, honestly, we often struggle to affirm that Your ways with us are always righteous and true, and with unconditional love. In fact, like the children of Israel, in the days of the prophet Ezekiel, we also blame You, that Your is not right. When actually, it is our way that is not right (see Ezekiel 33:17-20).
Invisible and Immutable Father, we thank You
Indeed, Invisible and Immutable Father, we thank You for Your patience with us. We celebrate You for being a forbearing and forgiving God, who does not treat us as our sins really deserve. For, “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4; NASB). We cannot thank You enough for being “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness” (Psalm 103:8; NASB).
You are forgiving
Since You are forgiving, compassionate and gracious, and abounding in lovingkindness, You will not fail us or forsake us. Rather, despite all our waywardness and wrongs, You will accomplish what concerns us in September 2026 and beyond! We honor You that You are not a God who quits on Your own. When Israel fell and failed miserably, You disciplined them but You didn’t quit on them. Yearning to continue Your divine and devoted work in their lives, You opened Your heart and shared Your longing for them in these blessed words.
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
“How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel?...My heart is turned over within Me, all My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath” (Hosea 11:8-9; NASB). Just as Your compassions were kindled over Israel when they failed You, so also Your compassions are kindled over us today, who have been missing the mark. Just as You did not execute Your fierce anger against Israel, then; so also, You will not execute it against us, today. Indeed, You are a merciful God!
Invisible and Immutable Father, we commit our cause to You
Therefore, Invisible and Immutable Father, we commit our cause to You in the new month of September 2026. O our Father, be pleased to accomplish what concerns our families, friends, and ourselves. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel, trusted You to accomplish what concerns him (see Psalm 138:8). So also, we are counting on You to perform and perfect what concerns us in September 2026. For our times are in Your hand (see Psalm 31:15a).
God of Israel, bring about Your best and bounteous blessings for Israel
Also, “Glory of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:29; ESV), bring about Your best and bounteous blessings for Israel – Your special and set-apart people. As well, Lord and Lover of the Church, carry out all Your cherished and choiced counsels for Your Church – Your saved and sanctified born-again believers. Also, “Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14; ESV), deliver on Your decreed and determined desires and designs for Your world! A world made up of all the countries and coastlands You created under the heavens.
God of Israel, we pray
As usual, “Glory of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:29; ESV), we pray first for Your set-apart people Israel. In the days of Your prophet Zephaniah, Your strong word of rebuke came to Your people who had returned from the Babylonian exile. Without fear or favor, and in all humility of heart, Your prophet declared to the returnees, their sins against You. “Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressive city! She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she does not draw near to her God” (Zephaniah 3:1-2; ESV).
The spiritual condition of Your people then, is the same
Indeed, the spiritual condition of Your people then, is the same as it is in Israel today. Today, we stand in the gap for Israel. We confess that Your people Israel are rebellious against You today. They are not listening to Your voice in Your whole counsel – the Bible. They are not accepting Your correction of them. Trust in You, YAHWEH, the LORD their God, is very low, if not non-existent. They are far removed from You, who had brought them near to Yourself.
Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray
Therefore, Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray for Israel today. We pray that they will honestly turn away from their life of rebellion and revere You, the LORD their God. Your word says: “Rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23a; NASB). As the LORD their God, You expect them to revere and respect You, not to rebel against You and resist You.
We request on Israel's behalf
Also, “Glory of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:29; ESV), we request on Israel’s behalf, that Your Spirit will move them to honorably hear and heed Your voice. For hearing and heeding Your voice is obedience, which brings You honor and glory. For Your word says: “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22; NASB). A people who were to be known as Your obedient people, became known as an “oppressive city” (Zephaniah 3:2). We plead with You for Israel today. Please, O LORD, do a gracious work in Israel today!
O LORD, please bring them back
O LORD, please bring them back to the point of delighting in hearing and heeding Your voice. O, may they listen obediently to the voice of the LORD, their God! For Your promise to them for listening to You is so precious. “Oh that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn My hands against their adversaries” (Psalm 81:13-14; NASB). What a blessed promise for Your people who listen obediently to You!
Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray for Israel today
Also, Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray for Israel today to humbly accept Your instruction or correction. Knowing the importance of humbly accepting Your instruction or correction, Your prophet Jeremiah cried out to You in prayer. He humbly prayed: “Correct me, O LORD, but with justice; not with anger, or You will bring me to nothing” (Jeremiah 10:24; NASB). We pray this same prayer for Your people Israel today as You work in their midst to bring them the point of humbly accepting Your correction in their lives. Correct them, O LORD, but with justice; not in anger!
You, O LORD, are trustworthy
Indeed, You, O LORD, are trustworthy. Of a truth, You are the most trustworthy Person in the entire universe. Who will not trust such a reliable God? However, in Your rebuke of Israel through Your prophet Zephaniah, he plainly stated that Israel “does not trust in the LORD” (Zephaniah 3:2; ESV). It is indeed sad and shameful that Israel had failed to trust in the most trustworthy Person in the entire universe. We, therefore, pray that Your Spirit will bring Israel to the point of heartily trusting in the LORD, their God. O LORD be their trust, and confidence! For Your word says: “For the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (Proverbs 3:26; ESV). O may others trust in their chariots and horses, but let Israel trust in the name of the LORD their God (see Psalm 20:7)!
Glory of Israel, we request on behalf of Israel
Also, “Glory of Israel” (1 Samuel 15:29; ESV), we request on behalf of Israel, that You put a longing in their heart to draw near to You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, “a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek…a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:17b-19b; ESV). Moreover, You gave us this encouraging exhortation and promise in Your word. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8a; NASB). Therefore, we pray that Israel will make the most of this blessed promise to draw near to You, the LORD their God, in such a time as this. O may Your Spirit work in the hearts of the people of Israel today to draw near to You! Please, remind them that as they draw near to You, You are near to them, a blessing beyond belief (see Deuteronomy 4:7).
Invisible and Immutable Father, we lift up Your Church to You
And now, Invisible and Immutable Father, we lift up Your Church to You in prayer. We thank You for Your love for Your Church. Your word reminds of this special and steadfast love. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25b-27; ESV).
What love is this!
Indeed, Lord and Lover of the Church, what love is this! “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1a; NASB). Truly, Your Church is greatly loved with a love that’s unceasing, unchanging and unconditional. What a love You have freely and faithfully lavished upon us! There is nothing we have done to deserve such lavish love. Our hearts are filled with adoration and appreciation of You! Yes, our hearts are full of gratitude and gladness.
We esteem Your wondrous Person
With grateful and glad hearts, we esteem Your wondrous Person and extol Your works. We join the victorious saints in Revelation 15, to esteem Your wondrous Person and extol Your works. “Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy; for all nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed” (Revelation 15:3b-4; NASB).
Invisible and Immutable Father, Your victorious saints...extolled Your works
O Invisible and Immutable Father, Your victorious saints in Revelation 15, extolled Your works as being “great and marvelous.” There is not a single word about their own achievement or accomplishment in life. Your works, yes, Yours alone, were what they committed themselves to extolling. But Lord, we must confess that we are guilty of boasting and bragging about our works. Our achievements! Our accomplishments! Please, do forgive us of this sinful and boastful attitude. For our own works pale in comparison to “Your great and marvelous works.” Please, grant that Your Holy Spirit would do a gracious work in our hearts to commit ourselves to extolling Your works, not ours.
But that was not all
Indeed, Father, Your Victorious saints in Revelation 15 extolled Your works. But that was not all. They also expressed satisfaction with Your ways with them. For from humble and honest hearts, they declared in their worship of You: “Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations” (Revelation 15:3c; NASB). Sadly, we, Your Church today, often find fault with Your ways with us. We confess that this is dishonoring and displeasing to You. This is because Your ways with us perfect! Yes, Your ways are blameless! Since You Yourself are righteous and true, Your dealings with us are also always righteous and true. Therefore, we pray for Your Church today. Please, through Your Spirit, bring Your Church to the point of joyfully and jubilantly expressing satisfaction with Your ways with us. For You have never done us wrong and never will.
We pray for a fresh hunger
Also, Lord and Lover of the Church, we pray for a fresh hunger for Your truth among Your Church today. For Your word made it crystal clear that in the last days, many will not endure sound doctrine or teaching. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4; ESV). Please, Lord, Your Church today needs Your intervention and involvement to overcome this pitfall. For we are living in the times in which many are turning away their ears from the truth and turning aside to myths. We, therefore, earnestly plead with You to bless Your Church today with a fresh hunger for Your truth in such a time as this.
Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray
And now, Invisible and Immutable Father, we pray for Your world today. We thank You for Your love for Your world and the gift of Your one and only Son. For Your word says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16; ESV). When our Lord Jesus began His earthly ministry of preaching the gospel of God, His first message centered on calling sinners to repent and believe in the gospel. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15; NASB).
You made all people in Your own image
Although You made all people in Your own image, “all of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a; NASB). In fact, we were dead in our trespasses and sins and were by nature children of wrath (see Ephesians 2:1, 3). Instead of leaving us under Your condemnation and wrath, You gave the people of the world, the blessed privilege of repenting and believing in the gospel. This blessed privilege of repenting and believing in the gospel can be experienced today. Because Jesus “offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, [and] sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12b; NASB).
We thank You
O “Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14; ESV), we thank You that You’re “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b; NASB). Therefore, we pray for the people of the world today. Please, “Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14; ESV), grant them also “the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18b; NASB), even as You granted it to the Gentiles of old and us - who were once dead in our trespasses and sins. Also, grant that by the gracious working of Your Spirit, they will believe in their heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and be saved (see Romans 10:9). Thank You, O LORD, that You’re still in the business of saving sinners who repent and believe in Jesus, Your Son.
O Invisible and Immutable Father, we cannot see You
O Invisible and Immutable Father, we cannot see You with our natural eyes, but we know that You’re alive and active in human history. Though we cannot see You with our natural eyes, yet Your word teaches us that You are unchanging in Your character and purpose. “I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6; NASB). Also, we thank You for being the most trustworthy Person in the entire universe, though we cannot see You. In fact, we can always count on You to do what You say to us.
Invisible and Immutable Father, You are the most reliable promise-keeper
Indeed, Invisible and Immutable Father, You are the most reliable promise-keeper. For Your word says: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19; NASB). The resounding answer to the above questions is: Yes! Yes indeed! You will do what You have said. And, yes indeed, You will make good what You have spoken.
Invisible and Immutable Father, we thank You
Therefore, Invisible and Immutable Father, we thank You ahead of time that You will accomplish what concerns us and our families. Yes, You will bring to pass all that concerns Israel – Your chosen and cherished people. As well, You will carry out for Your Church – Your consecrated and called-out believers, all of Your counsels concerning them. Also, Father, You will do all that You’ve decreed to be done for Your world – that is, all who have not yet believed in Jesus! Your Beloved Son! Our Blessed Savior! It’s in His marvelous and mighty name we pray all this. Amen.