By Joseph Ametepe
Blessed and Best Father, we are thrilled and thankful for bringing us into the new month of June 2024! We thank You for seeing us through May 2024 with all its challenges and crises. Indeed, You are the BEST FATHER we have; not only in this life, but also in the life soon to come. Truly, You want Your very best for us in this present life and also in the one soon to come! In fact, Your heart’s desire for us is that we eat the best of the land as we walk in obedience to You (see Isaiah 1:19). Yes, You are a Father who loves to bless Your believing children with blessings beyond belief! The very best!
Even those who do not believe in You owe their lives to You
Certainly, one of those blessings You freely bestow on Your believing children, is life. Even those who do not believe in You owe their lives to You. Indeed, You are the giver of life under the sun, though of few and fleeting years (see Ecclesiastes 5:18; 8:15; 9:9). In fact, all throughout Your Holy Book, it has been repeatedly affirmed that You give life to all (see Genesis 2:7; Job 1:21b; 33:4; Ecclesiastes 5:18; 8:15; 9:9; Acts 17:25).
You give life
Not only do You give life, but You also take life; even as Your servant Job testified after he lost his ten children. “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21b; NASB). In fact, Elihu, Your servant, testified of Your authority to gather to Yourself Your spirit and Your breath from man. An act which will result in the perdition of man. “If He should determine to do so, if He should gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust” (Job 34:14; NASB).
Man has made great strides in science and technology
Blessed and Best Father, although, man has made great strides in science and technology, he is still dependent on You for life. Indeed, it’s an undeniable fact. You are the source of life. You are the giver of the life we have on earth! And yes, You are the One “who keeps us in life” (Psalm 66:9a). We therefore rejoice and revel in Your gracious work of not only giving us life but also keeping us in life till this very day! Blessed be Your name, both now and to the day of eternity!
All are dependent on You for life
Since all are dependent on You for life and to be kept in life, we constantly appreciate You. Indeed, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty…Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might…” (2 Chronicles 29:11-12a).
You are the Ruler over all
Because You are the Ruler over all, and the Head over all, we acknowledge that no one can thwart Your plans for us. Yes, no one can derail Your divine purposes for us. Indeed, we are confident that the evil that’s planned against us will not stand or come to pass (see Isaiah 7:5-7). Your word further assures us of this truth. For it says: “Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not stand, for God is with us” (Isaiah 8:10).
Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened
Furthermore, Blessed and Best Father, You personally asserted that what You intend, happens. It occurs without fail. “The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, just as I have planned so it will stand…For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”” (Isaiah 14:24, 27).
They will succeed
Therefore, we affirm that Your plans and purposes formed concerning us for June 2024, will prevail. They will succeed, despite enemy opposition. None, absolutely none of them, will falter. All will come to pass as You have planned and purposed them for our lives. No one or no power will be able to frustrate what You have planned for our lives for June 2024. For You do according to Your will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And no one can ward off Your hand, or say to You, “What have You done” (Daniel 4:35).
We gladly and gratefully dedicate the month of June 2024 to You
As such, Blessed and Best Father, we gladly and gratefully dedicate the month of June 2024 to You. Please, grant that what You intend for our families, friends, fellow-believers and us will happen. Also, “the God of Israel” (Isaiah 17:6), perform what You have planned for the nation of Israel – Your special inheritance (see Isaiah 19:25, Jeremiah 16:18). Indeed, Israel, Your inheritance, needs You desperately in these difficult days of her life.
Please accomplish what concerns the Church
Also, Lord and Lover of the Church, please accomplish what concerns the Church – Your Spirit-indwelt believers. Furthermore, “God of the whole earth” (Isaiah 54:5; ESV), carry out Your good and godly purposes for Your world. Made up of all the countries and coastlands You created under the heavens. Indeed, “Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14; NASB), You are the Most High who rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever You will (see Daniel 4:17). In fact, today, You are ruling and reigning in all the nations of our world. Yes, You are active in human history on earth. And You will bring it to an end, exactly as You have predicted in Your word.
The nation of Israel is in need of Your gracious intervention
Therefore, “O Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 71:22; ESV), the nation of Israel is in need of Your gracious intervention in their affairs. Israel is embroiled in a difficult and dangerous war with Hamas. Also, Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah lingers on. There is also the constant tension between Israel and Iran.
Is that Your solution for the land You Yourself gave Israel?
But recently, the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to back the Palestinian bid for full UN membership. This move signaled Israel’s growing global isolation amid alarm over the Gaza war – which has resulted in humanitarian crisis. As if these were not enough headache for Israel, Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognized Palestine as an independent state. The goal for the recognition is the establishment of a two-state on Your land. O “LORD, the King of Israel” (Isaiah 44:6), is that Your solution for the land You Yourself gave Israel? (see Genesis 13:15, 17; 17:9; 35:12; Exodus 3:17; 6:8).
Israel desperately needs You in this hour of her distress
Indeed, “LORD, the God of Israel” (2 Chronicles 30:1), Israel desperately needs You in this hour of her distress. We therefore, fervently implore You on behalf of Israel. We pray that the leaders and the people of Israel will humbly turn to You their Lord and their King. You, O LORD, have founded Zion (see Isaiah 14:32b). Not only that, You are Israel’s Creator (see Isaiah 43:1a). You also formed and redeemed her (see Isaiah 43:1b). Moreover, You declared to redeemed Israel: “You are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1c).
We beseech You
Therefore, we beseech You, grant that the nation of Israel will return to You, their Creator and Redeemer. For Your promise to them still stands. “Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:7). We pray also, that Israel “will truly rely on [You] the LORD, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 10:20b).
We fervently pray
Furthermore, we fervently pray that in all their conflicts, they will wholeheartedly turn to You, their God. For trust in themselves and their weapons of war will fail them. Indeed, it does not please You when Your people fail to depend on You in their battles (see Isaiah 22:11). In such a case, You may even choose to remove their defense or covering – exposing them to enemy attack (see Isaiah 22:8). Therefore, grant that by Your Holy Spirit, Israel will turn to You and trust in You to fight their battles (see Exodus 14:14).
We earnestly call upon You for Your Church
And now, Blessed and Best Father, we earnestly call upon You for Your Church today. We thank You that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Lord and Lover and Leader of the Church. Indeed, He is the Head of the Church (see Ephesians 4:15). He made this authoritative declaration. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14; NASB).
She must not fail
Since the Church has been given the responsibility of preaching the gospel, she must not fail. Therefore, by Your Spirit, reveal more of Yourself to us at such a time as this! Revive Your sleeping Church! Renew our love for You and for Your Word! Rekindle our passion for sharing and spreading the good news, in such a time as this! Refresh our hearts in Christ (see Philemon 1:22b)! Remind us that our “toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58b; NASB)!
We also pray for Your world
Blessed and Best Father, we also pray for Your world, especially those who have not believed in Jesus Christ. We thank You for Your love for the world. Indeed, “[You] so loved the world, that [You] gave [Your] only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16; NASB). Moreover, “[You] take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, rather than the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11; NASB).
We therefore pray
We therefore pray that Your Spirit will grant them the “want-to” in their hearts to turn to You. Grant also that Your Spirit will convict them of their sin of not believing in Jesus (see John 16:8-9). Guide Your messengers and missionaries to those whose hearts You have prepared to receive Your message of life (see Acts 8:26-40; 10:1-48). Grant those who hear Your message of life “the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18b; NASB)!
We confess that there is so much turmoil in our world today
Indeed, Lord of the whole earth, we confess that there is so much turmoil in our world today. Many are despairing of life. Many are fearful. Yes, many are feeling hopeless and helpless. This is because they are looking to man, in whom there is no help. We pray for the many who are fearful and are feeling hopeless and helpless.
You alone have a perfect solution for each of their problems
Please, Blessed and Best Father, grant that they will look to You, first and foremost. For You alone, have a perfect solution for each of their problems. Whether it be spiritual! Physical! Political! Material! Relational! Emotional! Economical! Indeed, You have a proven record of providing Your perfect solution to every problem we humbly and honestly bring to You (see Exodus 15:22-25; 1 Kings 3:16-28; 2 kings 4:38-44; 5:1-14; 6:1-7; Mark 1:29-34; 1:40-45; 2:1-12; 3:1-12; 4:35—41; 5:1-13; 5:21-43; 6:53-56; 8:1-10).
And now, we thank You
And now, we thank You that Your word does not return to You empty without accomplishing what You desire (see Isaiah 55:11b). Indeed, Your word will succeed in the matter for which You sent it (see Isaiah 55:11c). Therefore, we have great confidence that the words we speak in prayer to You, through Your Spirit, will bear fruit. Yes, much fruit. Similarly, we strongly believe that the words we share with unbelievers, will touch their hearts to turn to You, the Lord.
You are able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask
Indeed, Blessed and Best Father, You are “able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20a; NASB). Therefore, we eagerly look with great anticipation for Your response to our prayers. We pray all this in the great and glorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.