By Joseph Ametepe
Gracious and Good Father, we give You praise and glory for bringing us to December 2022, the very last month of the Year. This is also the month in which we celebrate the Birth of Christ, our Savior and Lord. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11; ESV)!
Your grace and Your goodness have abounded to us
Indeed, Your grace and Your goodness have abounded to us all throughout 2022. In fact, without Your grace and goodness actively at work in our lives, we would not have made it this far! Great, O Lord, is Your grace toward us! Oh, “how abundant is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You and worked for those who take refuge in You” (Psalm 31:19; ESV)!
We thank You Father, for Your great goodness to us
Therefore, we thank You Father, for Your great goodness to us. Thank You for granting it to us according to Your compassion, according to the abundance of Your steadfast love (see Isaiah 63:7). In Your, goodness, O God, Your provided for us in our need (see Psalm 68:8). Father, thank You for Your great goodness that You gave us (see Nehemiah 9:35) in this year that is passing away.
Your goodness and mercy have been following us
Surely, O Lord, Your goodness and mercy have been following us all the days of our lives in 2022 (see Psalm 23:6). We confess that it has not been an easy year for many. Russia began the Russian – Ukraine War on February 24, 2022. From then on the global economy began to falter, bringing untold hardships upon families around the globe. Moreover, the ongoing war brought about the loss of thousands of lives. No one knows how many more lives that will be lost before this war comes to an end.
You have been faithful to us
However, despite this uncertainty, we acknowledge to You, our Father, that You have been faithful to us in this year. You have also been with us and tenderly cared for us till this very day. As such, we bless and honor You, our Faithful Father and Finisher. We also thank You that, You who have begun this good work in us will be faithful to complete it to the praise of Your glory (see Philippians 1:6).
You our loving Father has not failed us
Indeed, though the year 2022 has been tough and trying for us, You, our Loving Father, have not failed us nor forsaken us nor forgotten us. In fact, You have sustained us! Shielded us! Supported us! Strengthened us in the midst of the hardships of life! Moreover, Loving Father, You have also provided for us all our needs! You have also preserved and protected us through all the storms of life that came our way till this very day and hour. With glad and grateful hearts, we say, to You, O Lord alone, be the glory both now and to the day of eternity!
Gracious Father, You will not fail to accomplish what concerns us
Truly, Good and Gracious Father, You will not fail to accomplish what concerns us in December 2022. Indeed, such was our conviction at the beginning of November 2022. We are confident that You will most assuredly fulfill Your divine purpose for bringing us this far. Nothing will stop You from doing so. No one will hinder You from carrying out Your appointed purpose for our lives in December 2022.
You, our Lord…have been good to us
Because You, our Lord and God, have been good and gracious to us, we joyfully and jubilantly commit our cause to You in December 2022. We cast ourselves upon Your mercy, for You are “the Father of mercies” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Yes, we cling to You to carry us on eagles’ wings and bring us to Yourself (see Exodus 19:14). Above all, we count on You to finish what You have started with us since the beginning of 2022. For Your word says: “He who began a good work in you, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6; NASB).
You, Lord, will finish what You have started with us
Since, You, Lord, will not fail us but finish what You have started with us, we dedicate December 2022 to You! Please accomplish what concerns our families, friends, fellow believers and us. Also, perform what concerns the nation of Israel – Your chosen and cherished people in December 2022! Please Father, carried out Your divine purposes for Your Church – Your called out and consecrated believers. Furthermore, O Lord, accomplish what concerns Your world – made up of all the nations and lands You have created under the heavens!
There is no one like the LORD our God
Indeed, “there is no one like the LORD, our God” (Exodus 8:10). In fact, You alone are God, the true God. You are the self-existing, the self-sufficient, and the sustainer, the sovereign and supreme deity of the universe. Yes, You are in a distinguished class all by Yourself. We bless Your holy name, for it is the name which is above every name (see Philippians 2:9). We magnify You and honor You for who You are and for all You’ve accomplished in and through and for our lives since the beginning of 2022 to this very day.
Father, we are grateful for Your thoughts toward us
Righteous Father, we are grateful for Your thoughts towards us. You want us to experience Your very best, not only in this life but also in the life soon to come. Furthermore, Your desire is for us to reflect and radiate the light and love of Christ, our Lord. Therefore, please Father, form Christ in us (see Galatians 4:19)! Fill us with Your Spirit (Acts 2:4; Ephesians 5:19), to worship You! Walk with You! Watch for the coming of Christ! Wait for You! Work with You! And win souls for Christ in such a time as this! Also, blessed Father, fulfill the desires of our hearts as we delight ourselves in You (see Psalm 37:4)! Since we have failed You again and again in this year, please Father, forgive us our sins even as we forgive others (see Luke 11:4)!
Direct our focus on Jesus Christ
By “Your good Spirit” (Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 143:10), direct our focus on Jesus Christ, whose birth we are celebrating in December 2022, with glad and grateful hearts. Of course, we do not know the exact date of our Savior’s Birth. But we do know for certain that God became man in the person of the Lord Jesus and was born of the Virgin Mary. Of His birth, by the Virgin Mary, the Bible simply and succinctly says: “She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21; ESV).
You are good, and do good
Oh Lord, “You are good, and do good” (Psalm 119:68). Therefore, we are confident that You will do what is good for us in December 2022 and beyond. Also, we are certain that, You will freely and faithfully advance us into Your greater purposes for our lives for the praise of Your glory.
We bring the sacrifice of praise to You
Fully assured that Father, You will do what is good for us in December 2022, we bring the sacrifice of praise to You. We bow in humble adoration and worship of You. Yes, we bless Your holy name. We declare with all our hearts that You alone deserve our worship and adoration! Indeed, You are “the King of kings and the Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). You are “a great king above all gods” (Psalm), “the King of glory” (Psalm 24:8). Lord, You are the “King of the nations” (Jeremiah 10:7). “Abba Father,” (Mark 14:36), “from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2b). “You are majestic in holiness” (Exodus 15:11). Great and mighty are You Lord (see Psalm 89:8). “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord our God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come” (Revelation 4:8b; NASB).
Heavenly Father…touch hearts with Your unconditional love
Please, Heavenly Father, during this season of celebrating the birth of Jesus, touch hearts with Your unconditional love! Transform broken lives! Turn unbelievers from their sins to Christ, their Savior and Lord! Take the hands of the hopeless and lead them to Jesus, “the Hope of Glory” (Colossians 1:27)! “Teach them the good way in which they should walk” (1 Kings 8:36b)!
Draw us closer to Yourself
Gracious and God Father, in this season of celebrating Christ’s Birth, draw us closer to Yourself to depend on You! Deepen our love for You to delight in You in such a time as this, when the love of many is growing cold (Matthew 24:12b)! Deal bountifully with us to be a blessing in our families and communities! Destroy the works of the devil against us, for the reason the Son of God appeared is to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Also, Father, defend us and defeat all our enemies and their evil schemes against us!
We are grateful that You are our Gracious and Good Father
Indeed, we are grateful that You are our Gracious and Good Father! A Father, who always has our best interest at heart! A Father who loves us with unceasing, unchanging, unconditional, undying, unending, unfailing, unlimited, unquenchable, unrelenting, and unwavering love! We thank You that You know all that will happen in December 2022. Moreover, we know that in Your grace and goodness, You will accomplish what concerns us for the praise of Your glory. In fact, Your Spirit is so enthused and elated to carry out all Your good purposes and plans for Israel, Your Church, and Your world!
We present all these praises and petitions to You
Loving Father, we present all these praises and petitions to You, in the marvelous and magnificent name of Jesus Christ. “To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18b)!