By Joseph Ametepe
Eternal and Everlasting Father, with glad and grateful hearts, we bless You for bringing us into the month of November 2024. Indeed, Your good hand had been upon us all throughout October 2024! It was You, who placed underneath us, Your everlasting arms and carried us through it all. Yes, it was You, who maintained our cause through it all. And now, You are pleased to extend our lives on earth, to be a part of Your story in November 2024! Oh how we profusely thank You for graciously adding to “the time of [our] stay on earth” (1 Peter 1:17b) this November!
It is a historic month
Indeed, it is a historic month! Especially in the light of the November 5th, 2024 Presidential Elections in the United States of America. Many in the world, are uptight and uneasy as to who will be chosen to be the 47th President of the United States of America. Kamala Harris or Donald Trump? But Eternal Father, You are unperturbed and unmoved about the final outcome of this historic election. This is because You are the God who alone declares the end from the beginning (see Isaiah 46:10a).
The lot is cast into the lap
Moreover, Your word says: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:33; NASB). Furthermore, Your word intimates that You personally remove leaders or rulers and raise up others (see Acts 13:22). No, You are not uneasy about the outcome of the November 5th, 2024 elections in the United States of America. Nor are You so uptight about what will happen after the results are declared.
You will assuredly establish Your purpose
Unperturbed, Eternal and Everlasting Father, You will assuredly establish Your purpose. And You will proceed to accomplish all Your good pleasure (see Isaiah 46:10b) in the nations. For indeed, You are in control of all the affairs of the nations, great and small. Moreover, You make a nation great (see Genesis 12:2; Acts 13:17). We therefore acknowledge to You today, that no man can make a nation great. You, the Great One, alone makes a nation great. Moreover, You are the One who determines the appointed times of nations and the boundaries of their habitation (see Acts 17:26).
We beseech You
Therefore, dear Lord, we beseech You on behalf of the people of the United States of America. Your word says: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:12; NASB). It also states that: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34; NASB). Also, it declares: “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1; NASB).
We earnestly pray
Therefore, we earnestly pray that people of the United States of America will desire You to be their God, their only God. Please Holy Spirit, convict them to turn from their many sins. For “sin is a disgrace to a nation” (Proverbs 14:34b). Also, we pray that they will hunger and thirst for Your righteousness, for such, will be blessed and be satisfied (see Matthew 5:6). Lord, Your word reveals that the final decision of the votes cast is from You (see Proverbs 16:33). As such, we pray that Your hand will turn the heart of the 47th President of the United States of America to wherever You wish. In order to accomplish Your divine purposes in and through the United States of America.
We sincerely thank You
Eternal and Everlasting Father, we sincerely thank You for giving life to all things or preserving alive all things (see 1 Timothy 6:13). We also thank You for loving us and looking out for our best interest, both in this age and in the age soon to come. Indeed, You have been our shepherd and our sustainer. And You will continue to shepherd and sustain us. Also, You have been our guide and guardian. And yes, You will continue to guide and guard us throughout our sojourn on earth. As well, You have been our provider and protector. And You will assuredly continue to provide for us and protect us. Furthermore, You have carried us and cared for us all these many years. Yes indeed, it’s our strong belief that You’ll, as well, continue to carry us and care for us all throughout November 2024.
We commit our cause to You
As such, with confidence and conviction of heart, we commit our cause to You throughout November 2024! Please Father, perform what concerns our families, friends, and us in November 2024! As well, accomplish Your divine purposes concerning the nation of Israel – Your chosen people. Also, carry out Your divine plans for Your Church – Your consecrated believers. Father, be pleased to fulfill all Your desires and designs for Your world. A world, that’s made up of all the countries and all the coastlands You created under the heavens.
O Lord, Your chosen people Israel are still at war
O Lord, Your chosen people Israel are still at war with Hamas of Gaza and Hezbollah of Lebanon. Furthermore, Israel and Iran, are involved in a hostile tit-for-tat conflict, which could lead to an all-out regional war. “O LORD, God of vengeance” (Psalm 94:1a; NASB) how we pray that Your people Israel would heed Your admonition. “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19b; NASB), and never take their own revenge! In ancient times, when Israel went to war against their enemies, they trusted in You to fight their battles.
You took it upon Yourself to defend and deliver them
As such, Eternal and Everlasting Father, You took it upon Yourself to defend and deliver them. Such was the case in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah. When Sennacherib, the King of Assyria, came up against Judah and Jerusalem, You promised to deliver and defend them. “I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake” (Isaiah 37:35; NASB). In fact, You swiftly, suddenly, singlehandedly and supernaturally fulfilled this promise to King Hezekiah and his people. For “the angel of the LORD went out and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all these were dead” (Isaiah 37:36; NASB).
You are the same God
Indeed, You are the same God who defended and delivered Judah and Jerusalem in the days of King Hezekiah. Surely, You have not changed. But Israel has changed. In that, they are trusting in their military power and the intelligence gathering ability of the Mossad. Oh that Prime Minister Netanyahu and his military commanders and the people of Israel would earnestly pray to You! Pour out their hearts to You in humble dependence! Put their trust in You instead of their allies who supply them with weapons! You would swiftly and singlehandedly defeat and destroy their enemies! Defend and deliver them from the hand of all their enemies!
We also pray for the nations who are hostile to Israel
Now, O Lord, we also pray for the nations that are hostile to Israel and hate her. Particularly, we pray for the nations of Iran and Lebanon and Yemen and the Palestinians. You determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation with the goal that they would seek You (see Acts 17:26). Also, in Your goodness, You give them rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying their hearts with food and gladness (see Acts 14:17). Moreover, You have overlooked the times of ignorance (see Acts 17:30a). But now, You are “declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30b; NASB).
You have fixed a day in which You will judge the world
This is because You have fixed a day in which You will judge the world in righteousness, through Jesus Christ, “having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead” (Acts 17:31; NASB). Therefore, we earnestly pray to You, please Eternal and Everlasting Father, grant them “repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18b). Grant that they will “turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea” (Acts 14:15b; NASB). Please Father, graciously and gently guide them in their search for the true God to worship.
Give them the desire to genuinely seek You
As well, give them the desire to genuinely seek You, the true God and find You. For this is Your promise. “You will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all Your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29; NASB). This promise is not only for the Jews but also for Gentiles who are seeking You with all their heart and with all their soul.
We earnestly and especially pray for relief
Also, “Lord of the earth” (Revelation 11:4), we earnestly and especially pray for relief and reprieve for the suffering people of Gaza. Israel’s desire to root out the militants of Hamas and release the hostages, has brought untold suffering upon the people of Gaza. Indeed, the human suffering in Gaza is unbearable. Because of Your only begotten Son’s unspeakable suffering, You deeply care about the plight of those who suffer. Not only that, You come to their aid. Therefore, Father, please come to the aid of the suffering people of Gaza. Bless them with a season of relief from their present suffering as only You can do. Please Father, do it for the praise of Your honor among the Palestinians and the people of the world. For You are not a God who is partial (see Deuteronomy 10:17).
Eternal and Everlasting Father, we lift up Your Church to You
And now, Eternal and Everlasting Father, we lift up Your Church to You in such a time as this. We pray particularly for believers who are being persecuted throughout the world. The Lord Jesus Himself, the Head of the Church (see Ephesians 5:23), predicted that His true followers would be persecuted and hated (see Matthew 10:16-23). Moreover, Your word declares: “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:11; NASB). Therefore, great, indeed, is the need to pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted in the nations today.
O Lord,...rescue them
O Lord, we beseech You, rescue them from every evil deed and bring them safely into Your heavenly kingdom (see 2 Timothy 4:18). Also, we plead with You, rescue them from all the persecutions they are enduring, even as You did for Paul (see 2 Timothy 3:12). As well, we humbly ask You to reward them after their suffering for Your name’s sake (see 1 Peter 5:10). Holy Spirit, enable them to remember that the Lord Jesus will stand with them and strengthen them in their persecution (see 2 Timothy 4:17).
Please Holy Spirit, help them
Also, Spirit of God, enable them to resolve to persevere or be steadfast in the midst of their afflictions (see 1 Thessalonians 1:4). Please Holy Spirit, help them to realize that they are not alone, others are also sharing in the same experience of suffering (see 1 Peter 5:9). Spirit of God, please grant them the ability to rejoice that they have been considered worthy to suffer shame for Christ’s name (see Acts 5:41).
We thank You
We thank You that Your Spirit will continue to enable them to share in the sufferings of Christ (see 1 Peter 4:13). We also thank You that Your Spirit will also enable them to suffer according to the will of God (see 1 Peter 4:19). Not “as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or as a troublesome meddler” (1 Peter 4:15; NASB). As well, we give thanks to You that there will be a repayment for those who afflict believers (see 1 Thessalonians 1:6). And that, at last, there will be a relief for Your persecuted believers at the revelation of the Lord Jesus (see 1 Thessalonians 1:7). For more on praying for persecuted believers, please click this link: “Praying for the Persecuted Church!”
We present our prayers...to You
Eternal and Everlasting Father, we present our prayers and supplications and thanksgivings to You in the precious and powerful name of Jesus. Your only begotten Son! Our blessed Savior! Amen!