A Prayer for the New Year

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 N.I.V)

Our father in Heaven,

We bow our heads before your throne of Grace,

With a lot of thanksgiving for the years that are now behind us. Thank you for all the experiences we had: the joy, the laughter, the love, the happiness, the work, the wisdom we gained, the goals we reached. Thank you also for all the problems, disappointments and tears that made our hearts stronger and able to face tomorrow with increased courage and understanding.

Thank you Lord for the chance we have to continue in this world.We glorify your name for the beauty of all the things you have made. Our World and the Heavens above remind us of your glory and mighty power.

Help us to move ahead in the New Year with the lessons we have learnt in the years past. Keep us growing in love, faith, hope, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, courage, gratitude and forgiveness and diligence in our work. Free us from all pride, lust, greed and decadence; fear, hatred, envy, discord, jealousy, malice, bitterness, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, divisiveness, and all impurity.

We pray that you touch the hearts of those who seek to breed hatred and discord. Transform their minds so that so that love, truth, justice, and unity of mankind will be enhanced this coming year. We also pray that you transform our leaders so that they seek peace and the welfare of all people. Bring down all the barriers that divide us so that the true spirit of democracy prevails and that every person gets their due rights to exploit their full potential including the right to freely get to know you and worship you.

Lord, let this year be filled with your peace, strength and comfort, and improvement in our relationships enabling us to enjoy mutually supportive associations.

Lord we rededicate our allegiance to you our maker, who makes all things new.  We pray that you help us use each day fully in your service, our fellow human beings and our world. Help us not to stray from your will in our lives. Let your guiding voice be with us all the time.

Lord we know that all things are possible, and that we will achieve a lot of what we hope for this year, with your help and guidance.

We pray all this through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

*****

"Prayer is aligning ourselves with the purposes of God." E. Stanley Jones

*****