By Joseph Ametepe
Most Merciful and Mighty Father, to You be the glory and honor. In Your faithfulness and favor, You’ve brought us into the new month of February 2023. O Lord, we bless Your holy name. We thank You that Your “mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22b; ESV). You, O Lord, are over all. Yes, You are above all. Indeed, “there is no one like the LORD our God” (Exodus 8:10b; ESV).
Most Merciful Father, Your mercies abounded to us
Indeed, Most Merciful Father, Your mercies abounded to us all throughout January 2023. Had it not been Your mercies, we would not have survived let alone thrive in January 2023. During it, several mass shootings rocked the United States of America – leaving many dead. Disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides claimed the lives of many in Asia and elsewhere. The Russian – Ukraine War intensified without any side backing down. As such, loss of precious lives continues to rise on both sides.
Mighty Father, because of Your mercies we are not consumed
But Mighty Father, because of Your mercies we are not consumed in the midst of all these chaos and conflicts which occurred in January 2023. In fact, Your hand was at work - restraining the wickedness of men and the ravages of disasters and wars. O loving Lord, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance” (Micah 7:18; ESV)?
Holy Father,...You have not lost control
Indeed, Holy Father, we declare that despite the chaos and conflicts in our world, You have not lost control. Neither, have You failed us. Rather, You are in charge. Yes, You are in complete control of all the affairs of the nations. In fact, You are sovereignly orchestrating circumstances and events in our world to accomplish Your divine purpose. Your will, will most assuredly, prevail in the end simply because You cannot fail. Neither will Your word fall to the ground.
Your word affirms that You are the Most High
Moreover, Father, Your word affirms that You are the Most High who rules over the realm of mankind and gives it to whom You will (see Daniel 4:17, 25, 32). We, therefore have the blessed assurance, that the chaos, conflicts, confusion, corruption, cunning and clandestine schemes of this present world and its leaders, will eventually fail. They will come to an end and Your righteousness will reign supreme.
We refuse to live in fear
As such, we refuse to live in fear of the darkness and the deception that are currently operating in our world. Rather, by faith, we wholeheartedly acknowledge that, You, Lord, our God, is in the heavens. You do all that You please (see Psalms 115:3). Therefore, by Your Holy Spirit, we choose to walk by faith not by sight. For we know that the things that are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal (see 2 Corinthians 4:16).
Most Merciful Father,...we draw near to Your throne of grace
Therefore, Most Merciful Father, with humble and honest hearts, we draw near to Your throne of grace with confidence to find grace and mercy to help us in our time of need (see Hebrews 4:16). We confess that we are needy people and that You are more than able to meet all our needs. Moreover, You, O Lord, our God, have a perfect solution for every problem we face here on earth. O how comforting! O what calm assurance we experience – knowing that You are more than able to meet our every need!
We are so delighted and desirous to dedicate... February 2023 to You
Because of this calm assurance, we are so delighted and desirous to dedicate the new month of February 2023 to You. Please, our Father, accomplish what concerns our families, friends, fellow-believers and us in February 2023. “O Holy One of Israel” (Psalms 71:22b), be pleased to fulfill all Your good purposes for the nation of Israel – Your inheritance in February 2023! Also, Head of the Church, we call upon You to perform Your appointed desires for Your Church – Your Spirit-indwelt people.
Lord of all the earth,...we earnestly beseech You
Furthermore, “Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11, 13), please, we earnestly beseech You, carry out Your will for Your world – made up of all the countries and lands You created under the heavens! Since, You are in control over all the affairs of the nations, no one can thwart Your purposes. Indeed, You do according to Your will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay Your hand or say to You, “What have You done?” (See Daniel 4:35).
Loving God, in February 2023, the world will be celebrating "love"
Loving God, in February 2023, the world will be celebrating “love”- which is focused on romance on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2023). But we thank You for Your love, that’s the agape love. It’s a love that’s selfless, sacrificial, and seeks Your very best for the people You created in Your own image (Genesis 1:27). It’s a love that’s special, not shallow; supernatural, not superficial; supreme, not shaky. O what a wonderful love is this! “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1a; ESV).
God so loved the world
Also, Your word declares: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16; NASB). Loving Father, we thank You for this kind of love. For, it is the kind of love that counts both in this life and in the life soon to come.
You love us so dearly, Father
Since You love us so dearly, Father, it’s our heart’s desire to love You as well. So please, deepen our love for You in such a time as this! Draw us closer to Yourself! Deal kindly and mercifully with us, for we often miss the mark! Lord, “direct our hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5)!
Also,...enable us to desire more of You
Also, by Your Holy Spirit, dwelling in us, enable us to desire more of You in our lives! Depend completely on You! Devote ourselves to You, to prayer (Acts 6:4), and to Your service of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ! Delight ourselves in the LORD and in the law of the LORD (see Psalms 37:4; 1:2)! Dedicate our time and talents and treasures for fulfilling the Great Commission of making disciples of all the nations (see Matthew 28:18-20)! Deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Christ our Lord and Leader (see Luke 9:23)!
We know that You are not wishing for any to perish
Indeed, Most Merciful and Mighty Father, we know that You are not wishing for any to perish, but that all should come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9b). As such, we pray that You will grant repentance that leads to life (see Acts 11:18b) to unbelievers when they hear the good news! Grant also that they will believe that Jesus indeed, died for their sins and rose again on the third day, so as to be saved.
We also pray
We also pray that in this month of February 2023, there will be rejoicing in heaven over even one sinner who repents and enters the sphere of salvation! O loving God, as our Lord Jesus predicted, lawlessness will increase (see Matthew 24:12a). But You have not failed us! You will bring human history on earth to an end, exactly as You have predicted in Your word! That’s exactly why we dedicate February 2023 to You to accomplish Your divine purposes concerning us, Israel, Your Church, and Your world! We pray all these in the great and glorious name of Jesus Christ! Amen!