Five Prayers for the New Year
The Church should be praying in order that we not fall away during difficult times, but instead remain steadfast in faith, truth, and prayers
We’ve made it through another year, and today a new one dawns. The typical sentiment said is “Happy New Year.” And we pray it will be. Our Lord, in His sovereign grace and mercy, has presented us with another year in which to love Him, serve Him, glorify and honor Him.
But it will likely be one of further trials and tribulations for those in the body of Christ. Our world is increasingly hostile to God, Christians, Bible truth, and to the Church. In the U.S. it’s a presidential election year, which means those opposed to righteous and truth will be even more vehement as they continue to call what is evil good, and that which is good, evil so they can continue to live under their own rule.
The Church should be praying in order that we not fall away during difficult times, but instead remain steadfast in faith, truth, and prayers. Reading and studying the Bible, praying according to it, and fellowship with other believers is how we remain strong in the Lord. Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:2)
Here are five prayers, all Scriptural verses, we are praying from as we begin 2024. These are for both personal supplications and for intercession for fellow believers. They are a few among many that reveal to us what is the will of the Almighty for His children. If this is what He wants for us and promises to us, then He will give as we ask.
First Prayer
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
Pray righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) will manifest; and pray that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2) be done among us across the land. Pray His lordship will rule over our land.
Second Prayer
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Pray that we’d be aware of spiritual dangers, be firm in our Godly beliefs so as not to compromise Biblical truth; pray for courage in adversity, and to be strong in the Lord. Pray that all we do is because of the love of the Lord.
Third Prayer
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition.
To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. Ephesians 6:10-18
The Lord wants us to be strong in Him, and will enable us as we ask Him for His mighty power and full armor, in order to stand against evil, in prayer at all times and being alert in praying.
Fourth Prayer
…if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding, if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure, then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:2-5
Pray for Godly wisdom, insight, knowledge, understanding and discernment so as not to be taken in by what is “almost right” but escape the snare of the fowler (Psalm 91:3), not turning to a different gospel (Galatians 1:6) which is really no gospel at all.
Fifth Prayer
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:2, and have in mind the things of God, not merely the things of men (Matthew 16:23). Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things. Philippians 4:8
Pray about where our thoughts lie, on what and who we set our attentions and affections on—that we’d have in mind the things of God and not of self or the world.
And of course, we continue to pray like Epaphras… always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God. Colossians 4:12
Until Thursday, grace and peace…and Happy New Year in the Lord!
Photo by Simon Maage on Unsplash