A New Years Prayer

Lord, as I begin 2023, I pray for every follower of Christ, that we would “endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” ‭‭

Lord, help us to forget what is behind us, the past failures and disappoint and do our best to reach what is ahead.”‭‭ ‭“We confess our sins to You, knowing You will keep Your promise and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all our wrongdoing.” ‭When we look back, let it be at the memorials that build our faith in what is possible when we walk with You. For hope returns when we remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all we have, and so in him we put our hope.”

Let us “cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”. ‭Let us walk in the freedom that You have provided, for You are truth and the truth has set us free.

Remind us to “try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Remind us that we know the Spirit of God: as every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. Remind us we have overcome: because greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world.” There is nothing in this world that we need to walk in fear of. We do not need to cower to the principalities of this world, but walk by Your power and might.

Let us walk in love. Love that suffers long and is kind; love that does not envy; love that does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Love that does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”‬ ‭Let Your love be on display for the world to see, amongst fellow followers and to the world at large around us. Draw people to You, through the love we share with those around us.

We give this year to You. We seek You first knowing that You will meet our needs. Give us wisdom and peace to walk worthy of the calling You have placed on and within us. In Jesus name. Amen.