By Joseph Ametepe
Genuine and Generous Father, our hearts overflow with gratitude to You for ushering into a new month - June 2025! Do we deserve to have Your “life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25; NASB) for June 2025 and beyond? The answer? We don’t! “Life and breath and all things” are Your good and gracious gifts to us! Oh how we heartily and honestly thank You for being with us all throughout May 2025 till now! For Your word says: “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17; ESV)!
Truly, we are totally dependent on You
Indeed, O Lord, we owe our existence of a few and fleeting years on earth, to You! Truly, we are totally dependent on You. Without Your breath in us today, the grave will be our abode. However, we do not often acknowledge our total dependence on You. Dear Lord, we confess to You, this prideful attitude of thinking that our existence depends on ourselves. Please, forgive us of our sin of pride. Honestly, we are glad and grateful that You are a forgiving God. 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).
I know I could not stand in Your holy presence
Indeed, if You were to mark my sins today, I know I could not stand in Your holy presence. Therefore, Lord, grant that we will not take Your forgiveness for granted or flippantly! Please, as we experience Your forgiveness of our sins, inculcate in our hearts a holy reverence for You! A healthy respect for You! And, yes, a high regard for You! Indeed, Your forgiveness of our sins is one of Your greatest blessings to us on earth.
You invite us to reason with You
In fact, whenever sin defiles us and damages our relationship with You, You invite us to reason with You. “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18; ESV). When we heed Your call to repent of our sins and are forgiven, You even go a step further to bless us with Your very best. For through Isaiah You made this conditional promise. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (Isaiah 1:19; ESV)!
O Genuine and Generous Father, how genuinely generous You are!
O Genuine and Generous Father, how genuinely generous You are with us! Yes, Lord, it’s our desire to be willing servants of Yours! It’s also our delight to be Your obedient servants – doing Your will. Yes, You want us to obey You, completely, not conveniently! Faithfully, not faultily! Totally, not temporarily! Soundly, not superficially! For Your word declares: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22; ESV). Yes, Father, You want our obedience of You to be only and always on Your terms, not on our terms. Then, we will eat the good of the land. We will experience and enjoy Your abundant and abounding blessings of obedience in our lives.
What You purpose, happens
Not only that, our confidence in You is bolstered and boosted because what You purpose, happens. What You plan for nations and individuals, stands. Through Your faithful prophet Isaiah, You made this clear. “The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand”…This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27; ESV).
What You purpose happens
Because what You purpose, happens, and what You plan, stands; we gladly and gratefully dedicate June 2025 to You! Please, accomplish what concerns our families, friends, and us. Also, “God of Israel” (Exodus 5:1), bring to pass Your plans and purposes for the nation of Israel – Your chosen and cherished people. Be pleased as well, O “Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15), to carry out Your desires and decrees for Your Church – Your called out and consecrated born-again believers. Also, “Lord of the whole earth” (Zechariah 4:14), perform what concerns Your world! A world made up of all the nations and lands and territories You created under the heavens!
Genuine and Generous Father, we affirm
Genuine and Generous Father, we affirm that Your hand is stretched out over all the nations. There is no president or prime minister; despot or dictator; military ruler or mighty warrior, who can turn it back. No! None can turn Your hand back. In fact, Your word makes it clear that a day is fast approaching when You “will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless” (Isaiah 13:11; NASB).
What You plan stands
Since, O Lord of the whole earth, what You plan stands, we lift up Your world to You. Be pleased to reveal Yourself to them in such a time as this. For You are the God who makes Yourself known to the people of the nations. Thus – causing them to know You and worship You (see Isaiah 19:21). Also, we earnestly beseech You on their behalf! Remove the veil that lies over their heart and enable them to turn to You. For only then is the veil taken away (see 2 Corinthians 3:15-16). As well, we plead with You on their behalf! Please, remind them that they cannot continue living in disobedience to You without facing Your righteous judgment! A judgment that’s fast approaching! In which, “[You] will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom [You have] appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31; NASB).
You will judge the world
Since You will judge the world in righteousness through the Risen Christ, please grant the world “the repentance that leads to life” (see Acts 11:18; NASB). For You are the God who takes great delight in responding to people who return to You (see Isaiah 19:22b) in true repentance. Also, we call upon You on behalf of the people of the world. Please, grant that they will receive the love of the truth so as to be saved (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10). For a time is coming when those who do not receive the love of the truth will be deceived and deluded (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11). As well, we cry out to You, O Lord of the whole earth, on behalf of Your world. Please grant that they have regard for You their Maker and look eagerly to You, the Holy One of Israel (see Isaiah 17:7)! Not to the works of their hands as objects of worship (See Isaiah 17:8)!
Genuine and Generous Father, we beseech You
And now, Genuine and Generous Father, we beseech You on behalf of the nation of Israel. Israel is Your Son, Your firstborn (see Exodus 4:22). As such, You have blessed them with great blessings of Your choice. Also, they are the apple of Your eye (see Zechariah 2:8). Because they are the apple of Your eye, anyone who touches them without Your permission, will face Your fierce wrath. Also, Israel is a people near to You (see Psalm 148:14b). And yes, a people dear to Your heart! O how You love and long for Israel to love and long for You! Listen and learn from You! Live for You and let You alone be their God!
God of Israel, we pray
Therefore, God of Israel, we pray that You will grant the people of Israel today a fresh love and longing for You Yourself! For it is You who stir up our spirit to do what You want us to do (see Haggai 1:14). O Lord, please, raise up a new generation of “God-lovers” in Israel! And grant that they will love You, the LORD their God, with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their might (see Deuteronomy 6:5). For this is what You required of them since the time You established them as a nation (see Deuteronomy 10:12).
O Lord, it's Your desire for Israel to listen obediently to You
Also, O Lord, it’s your desire for Israel to listen obediently to You in order to bless them beyond belief. For Your word says: “Hear, O my people, while I admonish you! O Israel, if you would but listen to me!...But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me…Oh, that Israel would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes” (Psalm 81:8, 11, 13; ESV) Oh what a promise You personally made to Israel!
God of Israel, we pray
God of Israel, we pray for a new generation of Israel who are committed to listening obediently to You. A new Israel that finds great delight in walking in Your ways and trusting You to fight their battles! Indeed, if Israel were truly listening obediently to You, You would have long ago subdued and silenced all their enemies and foes! Your hand would have been heavy upon their adversaries. And their enemies would know that You, the God of Israel, are fighting against them on behalf of Israel. Certainly, Your word would have run swiftly to accomplish Your purpose for Israel (see Psalm 147:15b)! And Israel would have been glad in his Maker (see Psalm 149:2-3)!
O Genuine and Generous Father, we call upon You
And now, O Genuine and Generous Father, we call upon You on behalf of Your Church! We thank You for the Lord Jesus, the Head of the Church (see Ephesians 5:23) and the Lover of the Church (see Ephesians 5:25). Also, we thank You for His promise to build His Church, that the gates of Hades will not overpower it (Matthew 16:18). Indeed, we are glad and grateful that our Lord Jesus is keeping this promise to His Church. Certainly, He is the One building His Church today! As such, He deserves all the glory and honor, not only for the existence of the Church today, but also for her effectiveness in our world. O Lord, we confess, the pride of some today, who view themselves as the builders of the Church! Please, pardon them, we pray, for such arrogance. Christ, and Him alone is the one and only Builder of Your true Church.
Christ Himself is building His Church
Because Christ Himself is building His Church, we know that the Church will advance and accomplish Your divine purposes. Yes, she will advance and accomplish Your divine purposes in such a time as this! In April (18th, 20th), the Church celebrated the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In May (29th), she celebrated the Ascension Day Anniversary of our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, in this month, (June 8th), she will celebrate Pentecost Anniversary. Before His ascension into heaven, our Lord promised His disciples divine power for witness through the presence and person of the Holy Spirit. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8; NASB).
The early disciples experience the power...of the person of the Holy Spirit
Indeed, the early disciples of Christ, experienced the power and the presence of the person of the Holy Spirit. They lived their lives in surrender and submission to the person of the Holy Spirit. They were sensitive to the leading of Your Spirit (see Acts 10:19-20; 13:2; 15:28; 16:8-9). Not only that, they were sustained and strengthened by Your Spirit. As such, they were greatly used in advancing Your divine purposes for Your Church in their generation.
Genine and Generous Father,...it's now our turn
Genuine and Generous Father, who “gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:34; NASB), it’s now our turn, to be used greatly by You. Yes, to be used greatly by You in advancing Your divine purposes for Your Church in our generation! Therefore, we earnestly beseech You on behalf of Your Church. Please, grant that Your Church today (comprising of all genuine born-again believers: - Jews and Gentiles alike), will live their lives in surrender and submission to the person of the Holy Spirit.
We also pray
We also pray that, Your Church today, will be sensitive and submissive to the leading of Your Spirit. For He, the Spirit of truth, alone guides Your Church into all the truth (John 16:13a). Not only that, He is the One who discloses to Your Church what is to come (John 16:13b). Furthermore, He has one and only one passion – to glorify Jesus Christ (John 16:14). O Lord, grant this request to Your Church today! For we are living in an age in which many in the ministry are seeking to make a name for themselves. Many are seeking their own glory, not the glory of Christ. But Your Church, who is sensitive and submissive to Your Spirit, has the one passion of Your Spirit! To glorify Jesus Christ! And Him alone!
We pray
Finally, we pray, O Lord, that You will sustain and strengthen Your Church to fulfill Your Great Commission to us. Sustain and strengthen all true born-again believers to give ourselves to the task of making disciples of all the nations (see Matthew 28:18-20)! We sincerely thank You for the blessed privilege of partnering with You in Your divine work here on earth. Indeed, to You be all “the glory, both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Peter 3:18a; NASB). And it’s in Jesus’ blessed and beloved name we pray. Amen.