Blessed and Beloved Father, we gladly and gratefully magnify You for Your blessings upon our lives. Especially, the blessing of ushering us into the new month of April 2025. Because You delight in showing us Your goodness, You have graciously granted us life and lovingkindness (see Job 10:12a). Indeed, Your care has preserved us all throughout March 2025 till this very day.

We have been blessed

Surely, we have been blessed by Your care and concern for us throughout all our days on earth. David, the sweet psalmist of Israel was so touched by Your care and concern for him. Moved by them, David eloquently expressed his adoration and admiration to You, the Lord his God. “What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:4; NASB).

Your care for us is special

Indeed, Your care for us is special. Your concern for us is sincere. Truly, we cannot thank You enough for all the ways You have cared for us till today. We, like David, extol and exalt You for Your care and concern for us over the years till this very day. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits, who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion, who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle” (Psalm 103:2-5; NASB).

Blessed and Beloved Father, who is like You…?

O Blessed and Beloved Father, who is like You among the gods of the nations, so caring as You? Indeed, we say, there is no one like You (see Isaiah 46:9b). Because of Your special care for us, You continue to give us “life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25; NASB). Not only that, You have granted us life and lovingkindness; and Your care has preserved our spirit (see Job 10:12). But that’s not all. You have assured us of Your constant and complete care for us through Your Spirit’s inspired words in First Peter.

He cares for you

This blessed assurance of Your care for us is stated in these words. “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7; NASB). Thank You Father for Your constant and complete care for us. Truly, no one cares for us as You do, and continue to do.

O Lord, we are assured of Your constant and complete care for us

Since, O Lord, we are assured of Your constant and complete care for us, we can cast all our cares and concerns on You. We live in a world where many are fearful of the future. Others are fearful of death. Still, others are plagued with the fear of the unknown. The fear of failure binds many in its shackles. Financial security is a care and concern for many in our world today. Also, the fear of failing health, enslaves many people today.

These fears and cares weigh down the people of the world

While these fears and cares weigh down the people of the world, they should not burden believers. Why? It’s because You have given us the blessed privilege of casting all our cares upon You. Indeed, You Yourself promised us Your constant and complete care. Therefore, we humbly and heartily bring all our cares and concerns to You in this month of April 2025.

Blessed and Beloved Father, we hereby commit our cause to You

Blessed and Beloved Father, we hereby commit our cause to You in the month of April 2025. Please accomplish what concerns our families, our friends and us. Also, bring to pass Your divine purposes for the nation of Israel – Your set apart people. Please, also perform Your desired plans for Your Church – Your sanctified people, in such a time as this. As well, we pray that You will carry out Your determined programs for Your world. A world, made up of all the countries and coastlands You created under the heavens.

God of Israel, the nation of Israel is dear to Your heart

Indeed, “God of Israel” (Exodus 5:1), the nation of Israel is dear to Your heart, for from them “is the Christ according to the flesh” (Romans 9:5b; NASB). Moreover, Israel is Your firstborn son (see Exodus 4:22). Because Jacob, representing Israel, is so dear to Your heart, You personally guard him as the pupil of Your eye (see Deuteronomy 31:10). In fact, Your word makes it clear that anyone who touches Israel, touches the apple of Your eye (see Zechariah 2:8). Such a person or nation, who dares to touch Israel would incur Your wrath. That’s how precious and priceless the nation of Israel is to You.

You, O Lord, have chosen them

For You, O Lord, have chosen them to be a people for Your own possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth (see Deuteronomy 7:6). Indeed, You did not set Your love on them nor choose them because they were more in number than any of the peoples. No, not at all. In fact, they were the fewest of all peoples.  But, it’s because You loved them and kept the oath which You swore to their forefathers (see Deuteronomy 7:7-8).

Blessed and Beloved Father, we pray for the people of Israel

Therefore, Blessed and Beloved Father, we pray for the people of Israel today. We earnestly call upon You on their behalf. Please grant that they will know afresh that the LORD their God, “He is God, the faithful God” (Deuteronomy 7:9b; NASB). O Lord, we beseech You! Let Israel know; let Israel press on to know the LORD (see Hosea 6:3). Please let Israel boast, not in her wisdom, or in her might or in her riches. But let Israel boast in this, that they understand and know You (see Jeremiah 9:23-24). Especially, in this month of celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah. May they come to know Him as their True Messiah, Lord, and Savior!

We also pray

We also pray that they will know that their God “keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9c; NASB). Since You’re the God who keeps Your word, we pray for Israel to keep Your commandments out of love for You (see Deuteronomy 7:11). Yes, to keep Your commandments! Not the many man-made rules, regulations, and rituals. For You clearly and concisely declared to Israel’s first king that; to obey You is better than sacrifice. “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and 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).

We lift up Your Church to You

Now, O Lord and Lover of the Church, we lift up Your Church to You in such a time as this. In this special month, April 2025, we celebrate the greatest act of love and sacrifice the world has ever seen. That is, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on April 18^th and April 20^th respectively.  This great act of love and sacrifice was for our sake. For Christ’s death paid the full price for our sin debt. A debt, we could never pay even if we lived a thousand lifetime.

O how truly grateful we are

O how truly grateful we are that “the death that He died, He died to sin once for all” (Romans 6:10a; NASB)! Yes, His death was for our sins. For Christ “committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22; NASB). Rather, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross” (1 Peter 2:24a; NASB).  Also, Your word further emphasizes Christ’s death for sins. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18; NASB).

Blessed and Beloved Father, the death of Christ is for our benefit

Indeed, Blessed and Beloved Father, the death of Christ is for our benefit. So also is His resurrection from the dead on the third day. Your word succinctly speaks of the benefit of His death for us and the benefit of His resurrection for us. For it says: Christ “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25; ESV). Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, You brought us into a right standing with You, the holy and righteous God. O Lord, words cannot fully express our heartfelt gratitude to You for bringing us into a right standing with You!

We beseech You on behalf of Your Church

In the light of these benefits and much more, we beseech You on behalf of Your Church in such a time as this. By Your Holy Spirit, enable Your Church today, to love You Yourself. Yes, to love You with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind (see Matthew 22:37), so as not to leave our first love (see Revelation 2:5). Also, we pray that Your Spirit will empower us to live for You. For Your word exhorts us to live for Christ. “He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15; NASB).

May Your Spirit enable Your Church to listen obediently to Christ

Also, may Your Spirit enable Your Church to listen obediently to Christ our Lord! For on the Mount of Transfiguration, You authoritatively and assuredly commanded Christ’s followers to listen obediently to Christ. “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5b; NASB)! In fact, it will “go well with us when we listen to the voice of the Lord our God” (Jeremiah 42:6b; NASB). As well, we pray for the Spirit’s enablement for Your Church to long for You Yourself, not just for Your blessings and gifts (see Isaiah 26:9). O “how blessed are all those who long for You” (Isaiah 30: 18b; NASB)!

Blessed and Beloved Father…enable Your Church

Blessed and Beloved Father, by Your Spirit, enable Your Church today to lean on You in truth; not in self-deception (see Isaiah 48:2; Micah 3:11). To fulfill Your purpose on earth, we must love You Yourself! Live for You, not for ourselves! Listen obediently to You! Long for You Yourself! And lean on You in truth. But that’s not all. We must also in dependence on Your Spirit, look eagerly for You (see Isaiah 8:17) in all of our challenges and circumstances.

We pray also for Your Church

We pray also for Your Church to learn from Christ, Your blessed and beloved Son. For He commanded His Church to learn from Him. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29; NASB). Also, we pray for Your Church concerning what is so dear to Your heart.  That is, for Your Church to leave no stone unturned in spreading and sharing the good news to a lost and dying world.  And, to do so with a fresh sense of urgency. For our Lord said: “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4; NASB).

Lord of all the earth, we pray for Your world

And now, “Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11, 13; NASB), we pray for Your world. We thank You that Your word makes it clear that You love the world, that is, its inhabitants (see John 3:16). Moreover, Your word reveals that You have no pleasure in the death of the wicked (see Ezekiel 18:23, 32). Nor are You “wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9; NASB).

We earnestly pray

Therefore, we earnestly pray for Your Holy Spirit to convict the unbelieving people of the world of their sins. Especially, the sin of not believing in Your Son, Jesus Christ (see John 16:8-9). Through the conviction of Your Spirit, enable them to repent of their sins. In other words, grant them the want-to to make an about turn from their sins to the Savior. Indeed, we are so grateful that You are the God who grants repentance to sinners leading to life (see Acts 11:18). We are therefore confident that You will grant repentance to sinners today, leading to life in Jesus Christ.

Blessed and Beloved Father, we pray

Also, Blessed and Beloved Father, we pray that You Yourself will open their hearts to receive Your gospel message. Lord, You did this for Lydia from the city of Thyatira when she heard the gospel message preached by Paul at Philippi (see Acts 16:14). And we know that You are more than able to do it again today, in the nations. Also, we pray that the nations will remember You, their Creator, before the evil days come (see Ecclesiastes 12:1). Grant also that the “nations will revere You” (Isaiah 25:3b; NASB). That is, to give You the healthy respect You deserve among men and hold You in high regard, above all. For this is Your will for Your world. “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him” (Psalm 33:8; NASB).

We make this declaration with Paul

As we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this month, we make this declaration with Paul. “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; ESV). We pray all these in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. With confident expectation that You will glorify Your name, “both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18b; ESV).