Happy New Year

Dearest Lord,

I pray for each person here that this new year would hold new and beautiful gifts from you. That you would draw each one of us closer to your heart. That we would be quick to hear your voice and eager to follow the guidance that you give. Help us to lay aside anything that would hinder us from drawing ever closer to your heart. Help us forgive. Help us love. Help us become more like you.

Thank you Lord, that you love us completely. Let us trust you with our whole hearts.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the Lord."

(Jer. 29: 11-14a)

He listens to us. He gives us a future. He gives us hope. And he wants us to find him.

Thank you Lord.

Happy New Year

A Word for the New Year

Camy here.

Every year, I pray and ask God to give me a Word for the year.

A word or phrase that He wants me to keep in mind for the entire year. A word or phrase that will impact and guide my walk with Him, a word or phrase to remind me when I start to stray.

This past year, that word was “fear.” God wanted me to learn to truly fear Him—as God, as Lord Almighty, as Sovereign Lord, as a God who never changes, who has everything under His control.

This was such a great word for me this year. The concept of fearing God, of healthy, reverent respect, applied to so many aspects of my life—discipline, love, faithfulness, patience. It was a nice kick in the pants to remember to revere God, to spur me to obey Him.

I’m not sure yet what the coming year’s word will be. I’m just praying and trying to listen to Him to tell me what He’d like me to work on in my spiritual life.

How about you? Why not pray for a word for this year? Spend some quality time praying to Him, maybe reading a few passages in the Bible. Listen to your heart, listen to the passages you read, and try to hear that still, small voice that will whisper your word to you.