By Joseph Ametepe
Good and Gracious Father, we are glad and grateful for bringing us into the new month of July 2024! We acknowledge today that we experienced Your goodness and grace in June 2024. Indeed, had it not been Your goodness and grace overflowing into our lives, we would have gone under in June 2024! “Had it not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive” (Psalm 124:2-3a; NASB). This was the testimony of King David in his day. But it has become our testimony in our day. All because, You are a good and gracious Father, who has been with us and is on our side.
How great is Your goodness
Indeed, “how great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You” (Psalm 31:19a; NASB)! And O, Your amazing grace! How sweet the sound of it! Your grace is sufficient for us (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). It’s by Your grace we are saved (see Ephesians 2:8). Of a truth, where sin increased, Your grace abounded all the more (see Romans 5:20)! Moreover, you invite us to come boldly to Your throne of grace (see Hebrews 4:16). And You give grace to the humble (see James 4:6)! Like Paul, we each can also declare: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10a).
Oh, how can we thank You for Your goodness and grace...!
Oh, how can we thank You for Your goodness and grace, which You willingly and wholeheartedly pour out into our lives daily! Indeed, our words are inadequate to express our heartfelt gratitude to You. Like the sons of Korah, we also declare to You: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 48:1a; NASB).
We are grateful for Your promise
Surely, Good and Gracious Father, we too, like David; “shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness” (Psalm 145:7; NASB). Also, we are grateful for Your promise: “My people will be satisfied with My goodness, declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 31:14b; NASB). Indeed, You, LORD, are “gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness” (Psalm 145:8; NASB). And You, LORD, are good to all, and Your mercies are over all Your works (see Psalm 145:9). Because You are good and gracious, You deserve our praise. You deserve our thanks. Indeed, “All Your works shall give thanks to You, O LORD” (Psalm 145:10; NASB). And yes, You deserve all the glory- both now and to the day of eternity. For, “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2b; NASB). And yes, our God.
We are thankful and thrilled to commit our cause to You
As such, we are thankful and thrilled to commit our cause to You in the month of July 2024. We acknowledge that You know its end from its very beginning. Also, we affirm that You will not fail to perform the purposes of Your heart concerning us in July 2024. We also admit that, in Your goodness and grace, You will show us the way in which we should walk in July 2024.
We Humbly and heartily dedicate the month of July 2024 to You
Therefore, Good and Gracious Father, we humbly and heartily dedicate the month of July 2024 to You. Please carry out the purposes of Your heart concerning our families, friends, fellow-believers and us. Also, “God of Israel” (Jeremiah 30:2), accomplish the intent of Your heart concerning the nation of Israel – Your cherished and chosen people. Pease, Lord and Lover of the Church – fulfill the good word which You have spoken concerning Your Church – Your consecrated and called-out people!
God of flesh, be pleased to perform Your divine and desired purposes
Also, “the God of all flesh” (Jeremiah 32:27a), be pleased to perform Your divine and desired purposes for Your world. Made up of all the nations and lands You created under the heavens. Indeed, “Lord of heaven and earth” (Luke 10:21), whether the world admits it or not, You are in charge. You are in control of all the affairs of the nations today, even as You were in ages past. Yes, You are in command. For You rule and reign over all. And You will not fail to perform Your divine and desired purposes for Your world.
We therefore, pray for the world today
We therefore, pray for Your world today. Truly, Loving and Living God, Your greatest desire for Your world today is that they turn to You from their evil way (see Jeremiah 18:11; 25:5; 35:15; 36:3, 7). We acknowledge today, that the world has turned their back to You and not their face, even as Israel did in the days of Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 32:33a). Indeed, the world of today, like the sons of Israel in the days of Jeremiah, “would not listen and receive instruction” (Jeremiah 32:33b) from Your messengers.
We know that the world of unbelievers cannot turn to You
O Good and Gracious Father, we know that the world of unbelievers cannot turn to You without Your supernatural intervention. When Your runaway but repentant prophet Jonah, preached to the wicked people of Nineveh, You did a special and supernatural work in their hearts. The whole city turned from their wicked way to You. You saw it and relented of the calamity which You had declared You would bring upon them (see Jonah 3:5-10).
You are the same God today
Since You are the same God today as You were in the days of Jonah, You are able to turn hearts to You today. Indeed, we are confident that You can work in the hearts of the people of the world today so that they’ll turn to You. After all, You made our hearts. You know our hearts. You change our hearts. And, You also search our hearts. And yes, You are able to turn even the king’s heart to wherever You wish to accomplish Your purpose (see Proverbs 21:1).
Please Father, grant them "the want-to" in their hearts
Therefore, we earnestly pray for Your special and supernatural work in our world today, to bring about a turning to God. Please Father, grant them “the want-to” in their hearts to turn to You from their evil way. O Lord, touch their hearts! Take the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh (see Ezekiel 11:19) to surrender and submit to You! Teach them the way of truth! Transform their hearts!
Gracious Father, we confess that the world desperately needs You
Good and Gracious Father, we confess that the world desperately needs You in these changing and challenging times. And yet, the world does not see its desperate need of You. The love of self is at an all-time high (see 2 Timothy 3:2a).So is the love of money (see 2 Timothy 3:2b). Also, the love of pleasure (see 2 Timothy 3:4) in our world today has reached new heights. In fact, the love of pleasure has brought about a booming business in the nations. As such, not many in our world love You. And yet, You keep extending Your love to the world. Truly, “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).
God so loved the world
For it is written: “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). You truly love the world, myself, included. This agape love is selfless! Sacrificial! Special! Secure! Safe! Supreme! Steadfast! Strong! Supernatural! And it always seeks Your very best for us. O loving Father, open the blind eyes and broken hearts of the world to behold and believe Your love for them!
God demonstrates His love toward us
Furthermore, Your word says: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8; NASB). How wonderful! How lovely! Father, You knew that we would never attain sinlessness through our own efforts. It’s impossible for us to achieve perfection in our own power. You saw our misery. And You made a way for us to receive Your gift of righteousness through Jesus’ death and resurrection on our behalf.
Father, grant that the people of the world will cease from their own efforts of seeking to achieve perfection
Good and Gracious Father, grant that the people of world will cease from their own efforts of seeking to achieve perfection. For it is a dead end street. It’s a path of delusion. It leads only to defeat and disappointment. Please, by the working of Your Spirit, convict today, those who are seeking perfection through their own efforts. Either by following self-made religious rules and regulations of men. Bring them to the understanding that that’s a dead end street. And grant that they will humble themselves before You and choose Your way. That is, simple and sincere child-like faith in Jesus Christ, who “died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18; NASB).
God of Israel, we earnestly pray for the nation of Israel
And now, God of Israel, we earnestly pray for the nation of Israel, a people dear to Your heart. They are in a time of distress. Anti-Semitism is on the rise in the nations. It reared up its ugly head in the rape of a 12 year old Jewish girl by three teenagers in France. Moreover, Israel’s war with Hamas rages on as no progress is made on ceasefire talks. Precious lives are being lost daily on both sides. Now, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, on the north of Israel; have reached new heights. And both sides are not backing down. As such, Your people, Israel, are on the brink of another war with Hezbollah. A war that could possibly become a catastrophic regional war.
You made it known to Israel that the battle is the LORD's.
Indeed, from ancient times, You made it known to Israel that “the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47; NASB; cf. 2 Chronicles 20:15). Also, You promised to fight for them (see Exodus 14:14). All You require of them is that they love You, the LORD their God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might (see Deuteronomy 6:5). Also, You require of them to listen obediently to Your voice. With the promise that, You will be an enemy to their enemies and adversary to their adversaries (see Exodus 23:22). You also made it clear to them that they are to live by faith (see Habakkuk 2:4).And You also commanded them to look to You, “the Holy One” (see Isaiah 17:7) and to learn from You (see Matthew 11:29).
Gracious Father, by Your Spirit, enable Israel to love You
Therefore, Good and Gracious Father, by Your Spirit, enable Israel to love You with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might. Listen obediently to Your voice! Live by faith! Look to You, “the Holy One”! Learn from You. Indeed, when, through Your Spirit, Israel do as You require of them, You will even make their enemies to be at peace with them (see Proverbs 16:7)!
Israel is dear to Your heart
Even though, Israel is dear to Your heart and are cherished by You, Father, Your Church is dearly loved by You as well. Indeed, Your word affirms that. It assures us that “Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her” (Ephesians 5:25b; NASB). The goal of Your divine love for Your Church is to make her all the very best that You want her to be, “holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:27b; NASB). Father, we confess that, left to ourselves, we would not have chosen such a high and holy goal for our lives. We would have chosen “happiness” not “holiness.” And yes, we would have chosen “business” not “blamelessness.”
Like Abraham, we often settle for what is less than Your very best
Honestly, our aim in life is like that of Abraham. Like Abraham, we often settle for what is less than Your very best for our lives; Ishmael, not Isaac (see Genesis 17:15-22). We therefore need Your gracious work in our hearts to desire Your very best for our lives. Therefore, by Your Spirit, empower Your Church to desire Your very best for our lives! Devote ourselves to what You want us to devote ourselves to in this present age, for example, prayer (see Colossians 4:2)! Deepen our love for You in such a time as this! Depend on You wholeheartedly! Draw nearer to You, so that You will draw nearer to us and reveal more of Yourself to us! Dedicate ourselves ever more to You, the Lord our God!
Gracious Father,...we than You for hearing our prayer
Good and Gracious Father, “O You who hear prayer” (Psalm 65:2), we thank You for hearing our prayer today. We are confident that in Your own way and time, You will perform the purposes of Your heart concerning Your Church. Similarly, we are convinced that You will carry out the intentions of Your heart for the nation of Israel. Furthermore, we are certain that You will accomplish what concerns the nations of Your world, in July 2024 and beyond. Thank You that You are “able to do far more abundantly beyond we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20b; NASB). We pray these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, Your One and Only Son, our One and Only Savior! Amen!