Dear Heavenly Father,
As the New Year dawns, thank you for Jesus Christ. We praise Him because He willingly came, lived, died, resurrected, ascended, and now sits as head of the church. Thank you that Jesus is with us always. We rejoice in that Jesus lived and functions as our Example.
With a New Year full of opportunities, temptations, and challenges, thank you Jesus walks with us through this journey. We are totally dependent upon Him. We desire to cling to Him as we walk closely with Him throughout this New Year. Of all the places we can go, things we can do, and goals we can have, we do not desire anything greater than Him.
We rejoice in the Gospel – the death, burial, resurrection, and now hope of living every day in Christ. How exciting that all spiritual blessings are ours this New Year in Christ. We sit and wonder at the truth that everything we need for life and godliness comes through Christ. We begin a New Year with true hope.
Excitement and anticipation runs deep as we look for the return of Christ. Until that day, may we walk faithfully, humbly, and with sincere anticipation every day.
As we face a New Year in Christ, we pray that…
- We will demonstrate mercy, forgiveness, and grace toward those who sin against us;
- Our forgiveness would be as great as the grace extended toward us in Christ;
- In humility, we would seek forgiveness as necessary;
- Our commitment to Jesus’ body and our local church will grow;
- Our families will experience Your favor through us;
- Other members of the body of Christ would grow alongside us as we do our part;
- Neighbors will experience the love of Christ through us;
- People will hear of the Gospel from us;
- In some way, You will use us, as imperfect as we are, for Your glory according to Your plan.
Thank you that You providentially go with us into a New Year. We rejoice that every day is already written in Your book before we ever live it. We rest in Your sovereignty.
At the same time, please help us in our weaknesses, feeble-mindedness, and in our places of rebellion. We repent of our sin, sinful desires, and pride to recognize either. We long to walk in humble awareness of You daily as we search our hearts, repent and keep repenting, and do those things which honor You. No doubt You are the best and deserve our best! We say once again, thank you for Your forgiveness, for Jesus taking our condemnation and Your wrath upon Himself, for being our Substitute, and allowing us to live without shame.
As we face a New Year full of concerns for those we love, Your church, and Your glory, thank you for the joy of having a covenant faithful God who loves richly, cares deeply, and remains faithful in spite of us.
We thank you for answered prayer. Please help us in humility accept that answered prayer as what is best, faithful, loving, and caring.
We enter this year with so many burdens on our hearts. Real concerns, real problems, real hurts. Unspoken prayer requests. People for whom our hearts break. Those we love dearly. We simply seek to trust You, ask for Your providential help, and desire Your will to be done, even in light of what we want in each of these circumstances.
As we conclude this prayer to begin our New Year, new decade, and the first day of the rest of our lives, thank you that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and prays even on our behalf as we pray to usher in this New Year as well.
It is because of Jesus and in His name we pray, Amen.
As you pray this prayer, two things to keep in mind:
First, Make it personal.
Name your specific pressures, opportunities, temptations, and hardships.
Be specific for the people for whom you are grateful.
Change the plural pronouns to personal pronouns.
Add additional blessings for which you are thankful.
Second, Pray it often for you and others.
You do not have to pray this prayer just for the new year.
Tweak it. Change it. Pray it every day.
Pray it not just for yourself but also for your friends.
Call out their burdens, opportunities, temptations, and hardships.
My prayer is that God would richly bless you this new year.
Have a Blessed New Year!
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
