A Prayer for the New Year – Giving it to God

Let’s be real. Sometimes prayer takes more effort than other times. Prayer is powerful, and connecting with God is important, even when it doesn’t flow naturally. As a long-time Christian, I can say from experience—sometimes we just need a little nudge…or a swift kick in the pants…to keep our prayer life rolling! I hope this can be that nudge/kick that helps point your heart toward God today. Wherever you may be on your walk with Jesus, this prayer is to offer to God during those moments when it’s hard to find the words.

Dear God,

Let me start by saying thanks. Thank you for family and friends, air in my lungs, a roof over my head, and a million other blessings that I too often take for granted. You are good all the time, and I acknowledge that fact and praise you for who you are. Thank you for sending Jesus to provide a way for us to draw near to you for eternity, and thank you for your constant presence.

It’s the beginning of a new year, and I admit I have mixed emotions. While I look forward to seeing all the good you’ll do this year, I also step into January with trepidation. Last year had challenges that left me still trying to catch my breath, and sometimes the future feels like a scary place. I give these conflicting thoughts to you, Lord. Take them and take my hand as I put one foot in front of the other into whatever this new year holds.

Lord, please bless my family, my friends, and me with good health. Remove any and all aches, pains, diseases, and ailments and replace them with your wholeness and wellness. Let your wisdom and provision cover all areas of concern related to health, and remove any fears I have in this area.

Please guide and direct my relationships in the coming year. I pray for authentic, supportive relationships and for any current or ongoing relational issues to turn in a positive direction and be wrapped in your peace and guidance. I pray for honesty, forgiveness, and joy to abound in each of my relationships, and I pray that my ultimate worth would be found in you and no one else.

Lord, please breathe life into my work this year. I pray that your hand would guide my efforts as I strive to do all things for you and for the ultimate good of those around me. I pray for clarity of mind and open doors as I seek you in all my endeavors over the coming months, and I pray that, in all I do, my desire would be to please you above man every time.

Open my eyes and ears to your guidance this year, and use me to make a difference in the lives of others. Let me draw near to you, be filled with your love and goodness, and overflow that love and goodness onto those around me in need of you.

Lord, please keep my focus on you in all things this year. Remind me of your good plans and give me strength to press ahead into the unknown. I may not know the future, but I take comfort in knowing that it is in your hands. You are the author and creator of all things, the perfector of my faith, and the source of all goodness and love. You are worthy to be praised.

Remind me to slow down in the busyness of my days to hear your still voice. Remind me not to rush ahead of what you’re doing and to trust your timing in all things. When I start to feel overwhelmed by the demands of life, I pray you would adjust my perspective and comfort me. I pray for abundant reasons to smile and laugh this year. Thank you for the gift of laughter.

I pray for the leaders of this country to lean into your wisdom and direction. Bless this land and its people, keep it safe from harm, and provide it with trustworthy leaders who seek you above all else. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I pray that your purposes and plans for this year would be accomplished and that I would partner with you rather than trying to take control. You are good. You are love. You are peace. You are more than enough. You are God. And I’m so, so grateful. I give it all to you.

Amen.