Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we honor You for the blessing of entering into the new month of August 2026. O LORD, You are the God in whose hand are our life-breath and all our ways (see Daniel 5:23b). As such, we acknowledge that Your gifts of “life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25; NASB) made it possible for us to be among the living today. Indeed, this is Your doing; and it is marvelous in our eyes (see Psalm 118:23). Many who started July 2026 with us, did not make it to August 2026. It’s not because we’re better than them. No! Not at all! Rather, it’s because the years You’ve sovereignly appointed for their sojourn on earth, ran their full course.

This is a solemn reminder to us

Importantly, this is a solemn reminder to us that we’re not going to be here forever. Each passing day, brings us closer to the end of our own sojourn on earth. As such, we’re to live a life of redeeming the time (see Ephesians 5:16). The Lord Jesus vividly impressed this truth on the hearts of His first century believers with these memorable words. “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).  Truly, the night had come for some of our family members as well as some of our friends in July 2026! (This is a vivid reminder to me. Because on July 26, 2025, a year ago, the night came for my Beloved Sister Florence –the youngest child of my father. Shockingly, on the one year anniversary of her death, July 26, 2026 – the night came for my sister Ellen – my father’s oldest living child. In fact, within this one year span, I lost six members of my family, namely two sisters, two brothers, a nephew and a niece).

You’ve given us the blessed privilege of continuing on in life

But in Your lovingkindness, You’ve given us the blessed privilege of continuing on in life and serving Your purpose. Indeed, the reason You’ve granted us the honor of continuing in the land of the living is to serve Your purpose. It was written of King David. “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay” (Acts 13:36; NASB). LORD, please remind us that You’ve granted us “life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25; NASB) for the sole aim of serving Your purpose in our generation. We, therefore, ask for Your forgiveness for our sin of living to serve our selfish and sinful purposes. Indeed, these selfish and sinful purposes do not bring honor to Your holy and great name.

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we thank You

O Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we thank You that “You are a God of forgiveness” (Nehemiah 9:17b; NASB). Not only that, we adore You for being a God who does not mark our iniquities. For Your word says: “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared” (Psalm 130:3-4; NASB). Furthermore, forgiveness is one of Your precious blessings which You bestow on us. For You endeared our hearts with this truth through King David, Your servant.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven

“How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity” (Psalm 32:1-2a; NASB)! Indeed, Your forgiveness of our sins and shortcomings is a blessing beyond belief. But also, Your pardon is one of Your benefits which we enjoy here on earth. In fact, it’s one of Your benefits for which we are called to bless or praise You. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities” (Psalm 103:2-3a; NASB).

Your forgiveness is both a blessing and a benefit

Because Your forgiveness is both a blessing and a benefit to Your believing children, You treat us better than at the first. O LORD, which of the gods of the nations can be compared with You? Our resounding answer is: there is none! You have no equal. You are above all.  Indeed, before You there was no God formed, and there will be none after You (see Isaiah 43:10b). Your own authoritative declaration settles this matter once for all. “I, even I, am the LORD, and there is no savior besides Me” (Isaiah 43:11; NASB).

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, You promised

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, You promised to treat Your people better than at the first, through Your prophet Ezekiel. Because of Your people’s disobedience to You, You sent them to exile in Babylon. But being a forgiving God, You would forgive them of all their sins upon their repentance. But that’s not all. You went a step further, promising to treat them better than the first. “I will multiply on you man and beast; and they will increase and be fruitful, and I will cause You to be inhabited as you were formerly and will treat you better than at the first. Thus you will know that I am the LORD” (Ezekiel 36:11; NASB). O LORD, what a blessing beyond belief for Israel and for all Your born-again believing children! You could have abandoned us in our sins. And yes, You would be right in doing so!

You chose to forgive us our sins

But being a forgiving God, You chose to forgive us our sins. Indeed, Your gift of pardon is a great blessing and benefit to us. Indeed, that could have been enough for us. But You chose to go a step further in showing us Your compassionate love. You would treat us better than at the first. Indeed, as an example, when the sons of Israel sinned at Mount Sinai by making the Golden Calf to worship, You purposed to punish them for their sin (see Exodus 32:34). You smote them (see Exodus 32:35) in keeping with Your word. But when the sons of Israel repented and Moses interceded on their behalf, You promised to do something unique and unforgettable among them.

This is Your promise

This is Your promise to treat them better than at the first. “Then God said, ‘Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you” (Exodus 34:10; NASB). What a wonderful God You are!

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, You treated King Nebuchadnezzar better than at the first

Also, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, You treated King Nebuchadnezzar better than at the first; after he repented of his excessive pride. You restored to him majesty and splendor and added to him surpassing greatness (see Daniel 4:36). As well, when the prodigal son returned home a penitent son, he was treated far better than at the first to the bitter displeasure of his older brother (see Luke 15:11-32). Similarly, in Your grace, You will do better unto us than at our beginning after our repentance. You will bless us more greatly than ever before. And we will know that You are indeed the LORD, that is, YAHWEH – the self-existing, the self-sufficient, the self-sustaining, the sovereign and the supreme deity of the universe.

You’re a forgiving God

Since You’re a forgiving God who’ll bless us more greatly than ever before, we dedicate the month of August 2026 to You. We’re glad and grateful that You know its end from its very beginning. Indeed, Your sovereign hand will be orchestrating all the circumstances and events which will occur in it. In other words, whatever happens in it, will pass through Your sovereign hand. In fact, nothing that happens in August 2026 will be a surprise to You. A lot of the occurrences in August 2026, may be a surprise or a shock to us. But no occurrence in August 2026 will be a surprise or a shock to You. Not only will nothing surprise You in August 2026, but also, You will be in charge and in full control of all that’ll be happening in August 2026.

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, accomplish what concerns our familes

Therefore, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, accomplish what concerns our families, friends, and ourselves. Also, “Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 30:15; NASB), bring to pass all Your best and beloved blessings for Israel – Your chosen and cherished people. As well, Counselor of the Church, carry out Your concerns and counsels for Your Church – Your consecrated and called-out people. Also, “Lord of the whole earth” (Micah 4:13; ESV), discharge all Your divine desires and decrees for Your world. A world – made up of all the nations and lands You created under the heavens.

Holy One of Israel, we pray for Israel

“Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 30:15; NASB), we pray for Israel – Your chosen and cherished people. Indeed, they are a people near to You (see Psalm 148:14). Yes, they’re not only near to You, but they’re also dear to Your heart. Not only that, they are Your set apart and selected people (see Deuteronomy 7:6-7). You set Your heart on them to love them “with Your everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3; NASB). Because of Your special love for them, You declared: “Israel is My son, My firstborn” (Exodus 4:22; NASB).

O LORD, Your love for Your people Israel knows no bounds

O LORD, Your love for Your people Israel knows no bounds. It’s lavished so generously and greatly on them. But how should Your people Israel respond to such generous and great love? Your word gives us this answer as Israel’s response. “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5; NASB). Therefore, we pray that Israel will commit themselves to loving You with every resource, and capability at their disposal, through the enabling power of Your Spirit. Just as You set Your heart on them to love them with Your everlasting love, enable them to love You alone. O Spirit of God, grant that Israel will make YAHWEH the object of their love. For You, O LORD, have made them the object of Your love.

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for a fresh longing

Also, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for a fresh longing for You Yourself among the people of Israel. In addition to loving You with everything they’ve got, Israel must also be longing for You – their Lord and Lover. Please, bless them with the longing You once birthed in the heart of Your prophet of old, Isaiah. For Isaiah testifies of his passionate longing for You Yourself. “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently” (Isaiah 26:9a; NASB).

We specifically pray for Israel today

Indeed, a nation who is loving You and longing for You Yourself, will also be looking to You to direct all their affairs. Spiritual! Political! Economical! Therefore, we specifically pray for Israel today. Please, grant that Israel will look to You, the Holy One of Israel (see Isaiah 17:7) in such a time as this. Your promise to those who truly and trustingly look to You is precious. “Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:5; ESV).

You, O LORD, have never put anyone to shame

Indeed, You, O LORD, have never put anyone to shame who truly and trustingly looks to You. You have not disappointed a single soul for looking to You to direct his or her life. And You will never ever disgrace a nation for fixing their eyes on You during their times of trials. Such is our God. Never will a troubled heart look to You in vain. As such, we join the psalmist of old to pray for Israel today. “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He is gracious to us. Be gracious to us, O LORD, be gracious to us…” (Psalm 123:2-3a; NASB). “O our God…we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You“ (2 Chronicles 20:12; NASB). O may Israel’s eyes look to You, the LORD their God in these tensed and turbulent times!

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your Church

And now, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your Church. That is, all born-again believers in Jesus Christ – consecrated and called-out of the world for Your purpose. We thank You for Your work of protecting and preserving Your Church in such a time as this. Indeed, without Your gracious work of protecting and preserving Your Church, she would have no chance of surviving, let alone thriving. We greatly appreciate the promise made by our Lord Jesus on building His Church. Not only did our Lord willingly and wholeheartedly sacrificed Himself for the Church, but He also set His heart on building her. A work He alone, and none other, is qualified to do!

I also say to you

“I also say to you that you are Peter (Gr. Petros, a stone), and upon this rock (Gr. petra, large rock, bedrock) I will build My church (Gr. ekklesia); and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18; NASB). O Father, how we thank You for this blessed promise! For by this promise, You are assuring Your Church that the powers of death, that’s, Satan and his hosts, would not prevail over Your Church, even in doing their most powerful work of opposing her. Your Church cannot die. Indeed, Your Church will live on and thrive. All the evil plots, schemes, and machinations of the enemies of the Church will not be able to overcome her.

Your Church will live on and thrive

Since Your Church will live on and thrive, what must she be praying for in such a time as this?  Through Your Holy Spirit, she must fervently and faithfully pray to take her stand in the spiritual battle raging daily in her life. First, we eagerly pray that, through Your Spirit’s enabling power, Your Church will take her stand against the deception of her adversary. Deception is the greatest weapon of Satan – the adversary of Your Church. “He is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44; NASB).

He…uses deception to deceive the whole world

He craftily and cunningly uses deception to deceive the whole world or the nations (see Revelation 12:9; 20:8). Deception has been and is still his mission. Since the adversary of Your Church is still deceiving the nations today, strengthen her to take her stand against his deceptive schemes! O LORD, spare her from falling into his cunning and crafty plots of deception! Save her from becoming a victim of his shrewd and subtle ways!

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your Church

Also, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your Church today to take her stand for the truth. Your truth triumphs over the deception of our adversary. As such, we earnestly pray that Your Church will stand firm in the truth, especially in this age of deception. Thank You for revealing the truth to Your Church. Your word says; “God [referring to You, the Father] is true” (John 3:33; NASB). It also says: Jesus is “the truth” (John 14:6 ESV). Furthermore, it declares that the: “The Spirit is the truth” (1 John 5:6; ESV).  Indeed, You are the embodiment of truth. Moreover, “Your words are truth” (2 Samuel 7:28; NASB).

Our Lord Jesus said

Our Lord Jesus said: “If you continue in My word…you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32; NASB). Therefore, we fervently pray that Your Church today, will saturate herself with Your truth! Seek Your truth heartily and hungrily to guide every area of her life! We pray that Your Church will stand in the truth ([for the deceiver does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him (see John 8:44)]! Also, grant that Your Church will speak the truth in love! And, share the truth without fear or favor in such a time as this!

Furthermore, we pray

Furthermore, we pray, O LORD, for Your Church to take her stand in declaring that salvation is found in Jesus alone. And Him alone. Indeed, our Lord Jesus Himself declared that He is the only way to You, the Father. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6; NASB).  This declaration was foundational in the proclamation of the apostles who heard it firsthand from our Lord Jesus. Apostle Peter affirmed this declaration while speaking before the rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem. “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12; NASB). Yes, salvation from our sins, is found only in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus alone saves sinners from their sins.

We earnestly pray

Therefore, we earnestly pray that Your Church today, will unapologetically proclaim Jesus alone as the “Savior of the world” (John 4:42b; NASB). Also, we eagerly pray that Your church will unashamedly present Jesus, and Him alone, as the perfect answer to man’s problem of sin. As well, we effectually pray that Your Church will unceasingly preach Jesus Christ as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; NASB)! Furthermore, we enthusiastically pray that Your Church will unequivocally promote Jesus, and Him alone, as the Seeker and Savior of lost sinners. For our Lord Jesus Himself declared: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10; NASB).

Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your world

And now, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, we pray for Your world. That is, for all those who have not yet believed in Your only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of their sins. We gladly and genuinely thank You. Because You are “God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3b-4; NASB). Furthermore, we praise You for being the God who is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b; NASB).

Salvation of sinners is Your heart’s desire

Since the salvation of sinners is Your heart’s desire, we pray for Your world of lost sinners. We pray that, You’ll open a door for the message of the good news to be shared with unbelievers. For the message of the gospel is the means through which unbelievers come to faith in Jesus Christ. And it is only when You open a door for the message of the gospel that, it can be proclaimed. Apostle Paul, Your messenger, requested prayer for this very thing. “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3; ESV).

O LORD, we thank You

O LORD, we thank You that You have the power to open a door for Your gospel message even in places we consider unreachable. Moreover, You are sovereign over our families, schools, work places, communities, and over the nations. Therefore, we pray that You will open a door for Your gospel in our day; for unbelievers to be reached and saved. Grant that they may come to the knowledge of the truth, and through faith in Jesus, enter into the sphere of salvation.

And now, Hallowed and Heavenly Father, “O You who hear prayer, to You all men come” (Psalm 65:2; NASB). We count it a great privilege to come to You in prayer. O how we gladly and greatly thank You for such a blessed privilege! To draw near with confidence to Your “throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16; ESV). Because You are “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10; NASB), we know that we will find grace to help in our time of need. In Your overflowing grace, You will meet all the needs of Israel, Your Church, and Your world. Yes, You will do so according to Your will and for the glory of Your great and glorious name. O Father, we pray all this in the name of Jesus. Your One and Only Begotten Son! Our One and Only Savior! Amen!