Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
INSIGHT
–Quest is written as mas’a in Hebrew and ekzeteó in Greek which means an act or instance of seeking something or someone. Like an athlete in a competition, we are called to run the race of faith looking to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. This provides the ultimate example by enduring the cross for the joy set before Him, setting the pace and leading believers to victory in Christ. This calls for God’s grace and yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
How excellent is Your name Lord in all the heavens and the earth. You are great and mighty dear Lord Jesus. You are excellent and worthy of all our praises. We thank You Lord for enabling us to see this new month. Thank You for this far that You have brought us and the far that You are taking us. Your mercies that are new each morning. May You forgive us all our sins and iniquities and wash us with Your precious blood. Thank You for Your grace that teaches us to live godly lives looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. We commit this new month and our plans to You dear Lord Jesus. May You please guide us and make our paths straight. We honor You and give You praise, and it is in Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Titus 2:11-13
1 John 2:1-2 NKJV
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
INSIGHT
–The global meaning of an advocate is someone who speaks in court on behalf of a defendant. Apostle John used the word Advocate to describe Jesus who speaks on our behalf in the courts of heaven before our accuser the devil who goes before God, day and night (Revelation 12:10). Jesus our Righteous Judge defends us and speaks on our behalf. Jesus is also our High Priest and makes intercession for us, for He is holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners (Hebrews 7:24-27).
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus how great are You in all the heavens and the earth. Abba Father You are our God and Savior, salvation and strength belongs to You. Your glory and power endures forever. We ask for Your mercy and grace dear Jesus, that You may forgive us our iniquities, and remove every accusasion against us, our families, work, ministries and everything that concerns us. By Your grace we shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies dear Lord Jesus. May You fight for us every battle and keep us safe from harmful snares of the evil one. May You put a hedge of fire all around us and cover us with Your precious blood. All glory, honor, power and strength belongs to You now and forever. Amen
Further reading: Acts 3:14
John 8:36 NKJV
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
INSIGHT
–True freedom comes from Jesus Christ, who liberates us from the bondage of sin leading to holiness. Such freedom is not pegged on political affiliation or self-sufficient independence, but a spiritual condition marked by a restored relationship with God and freedom to live an active, committed life in God’s word. Jesus makes believers truly free, providing a complete and definitive liberation from sin’s guilt and shame. Once we accept Christ as our personal Savior, the Holy Spirit grants us liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).
PRAYER
Dear God You are our refuge and strength, our ever-present help in trouble. We shall not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. Though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. Dear Lord have mercy on us and save us. Create in us clean hearts and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Lord Almighty, break every yoke off our necks, tear off our bonds and break every foreign enslavement upon us, our families, generations and nation. We nail them to the cross. May You break every chain and cause us to rejoice this month. We step into freedom for there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. We declare that every addiction that creeps during the day and at night we break You in the mighty name of Jesus. May You dissolve alcoholism, silence gambling, break pornography, uproot lust, break every chain, destroy every corruption and debt. May Your river Holy Spirit wash away roots of addiction, stress, depression, distress, disease, barrenness and delay in Jesus mighty name. It is for freedom that You have set us free Christ. Help us dear Jesus to stand firm that we may not be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. We plant new seeds of obedience, holiness, worship and fellowship. May You restore to us double in Jesus name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Galatians 5:1, Jeremiah 30:8
1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
INSIGHT
–Disobedience to God’s word results to frustrations and on the other hand obedience leads to victory. God calls every believer to embrace His grace and exercising mental alertness and unwavering focus on God and not on worldly desires. This hope provides strength amidst suffering and calls for a transformation from former, sinful ways to a life reflecting God’s holy character, and since God is Holy then we must be holy.
PRAYER
Holy, holy, holy are You Lord God Almighty, who was, who is and who is to come. May You make us holy Lord because You are Holy. Where we have gone astray we humbly ask for Your forgiveness and mercy our Lord and Savior. May You wash us with Your precious blood. Have mercy upon us O God, according to Your lovingkindness, according to the multitude of Your tender mercies. Blot out our transgressions dear Jesus. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. For we acknowledge our transgressions and our sins are always before us. Against You, You only, have we sinned and done this evil in Your sight, that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, we were brought forth in iniquity, and in sin we were conceived. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make us to know wisdom. Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean. Wash us and we shall be whiter than snow. Make us hear joy and gladness, that the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Do not cast us away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation, and uphold us by Your generous Spirit. May You help us and save us merciful Savior. We thank You and we honor You, and it is Jesus mighty name we pray. Amen
Further reading: Psalms 51:1-12
Matthew 5:48 NKJV
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
INSIGHT
–The word perfect in Greek is teleios that does not necessarily mean sinless flawlessness in this context but as spiritual completeness, maturity, or wholeness, aligning with God’s complete nature of love and mercy toward all including enemies.
SUMMARY
Holy in Hebrew is written as qadosh and in Greek, hagios means to be set apart, sacred, or consecrated, dedicated to a divine purpose and distinct from the common or profane. 1 John 2:1-2 cautions us from sin, and reminds us that if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with our Father, Jesus Christ the righteous who is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Hebrews 12:1-2 informs us that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, therefore we should lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. John 8:36 reveals that, if the Son makes us free, we shall be free indeed. Which is by the grace of God that are set free and made whole set apart from sin. 1 Peter 1:13-16 calls us to gird up the loins of our mind, be sober, and rest our hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming ourselves to the former lusts, as in ignorance; but as He who called us is holy. Therefore we are called to be holy in all conduct, because our God is Holy.
PRAYER
There is none holy like You Lord, for there is none besides You. There is no rock like You our God. You are Holy Lord and the author of all holiness. Holy, holy, holy are You Lord God Almighty, who was, who is and who is to come. May You make us holy like You for You are holy, that we may be conformed to Your image dear Jesus. By Your grace we shall always overcome the snares of sin, satan and death. We are more than conquers in You Christ Jesus. We are more than victorious by Your precious blood and the word of our testimony. May You teach us love You and one another as ourselves, including our enemies. May You grant us and all people Your gift of eternal life dear Jesus, that we may resurrect in the Day of You Lord. Dear Lord Jesus may You do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask of or think of according to the power that is at work in us. Lord we trust in You and exalt You. We believe that You are able to do more than we can think of or imagine. We believe that we shall be extremely fruitful since we abide in You and You in us. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and we shall dwell in Your house forever. May You bless us and keep us loving Father, may You shine Your face upon us and be gracious to us. May You lift up Your countenance towards us and give us peace. Amen
Further reading: Revelation 4:8, 1 Samuel 2:2