Thanksgiving and Prayer for the New Year

By Patricia Newman

“I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” Revelation 21:5

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Heavenly Father, most glorious and ever-living God, I come to You in the precious name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. As the year draws to a close, I look back with deep gratitude over the months from January through to December. What love, goodness, and mercy You have so graciously bestowed upon me and upon my family. Amazing love, indescribable goodness, and countless mercies. Again and again. What have I known but Your lovingkindness and unwavering faithfulness? From the core of my being, I bless Your holy Name.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:11

I thank You for Your word.  How precious Your word is! During trials and difficult times, Your word, illumined by the Holy Spirit, has furnished needed direction, comfort and peace. Thank You, Father, for the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. I thank You, Father, for every lesson that You have taught me. I thank You that the good work that You have begun in me, You will in Your great faithfulness complete. Thank You that “indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed” (Psalm 25:3).

How wonderful it is, Lord, that I need never walk in darkness. You have given the holy light – Your word. You have given us the holy Enabler – Your Holy Spirit. Thank You because You are light, and in You there is no darkness at all. Every word that comes from Your mouth is utterly pure and dependable treasure. Your word never fails. I praise You, Father, that those who belong to You lack no good thing. May the love and the fear of You never depart from me.

Looking to the new year, Father, I pray for a much deeper, closer walk with You. Grant, Father, that I live so very near to the cross. May my eyes be set upon Jesus continually throughout 2017. Teach me to die to self daily. May I know afresh, Lord, my total spiritual bankruptcy apart from You. May Your holy will be my complete and utter pre-occupation. May Your holy word be even sweeter to my soul. May I cherish Your word always. May I desire it more than my necessary food. May Your written word continually lead me to Jesus, the Word of God, my Redeemer, my exceeding joy, my All.

I desire, Father, to bear much fruit in accordance with Your holy will. I know that success – true success in the Christian life – depends on the extent to which we abide in You and in Your word; for, indeed, apart from You, we can do nothing. I know that true success depends on the extent to which we are led by the Holy Spirit. Fill me continually, Lord, with Your Holy Spirit. I desire a deeper prayer life, a deeper communion with You. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit. Make me abhor and detest all sin. May I be so very sensitive to the Holy Spirit, never grieving the Holy Spirit. May my life and my deeds be empowered by Your Holy Spirit. May Christ, my Lord, be continually magnified in my life.

I lift my family to You, Lord. How grateful I am for this family. I pray that You would lead us all continually in accordance with Your word. Strengthen us in our innermost being. Keep us Lord from all evil, deception and from every wile of the enemy. For the members of my family that are still outside of Christ, Father, I pray that You would, in Your great mercy, grant them the divine grace to repent and believe in Jesus Christ. I thank You, Father, with all my heart, that it is not Your will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and saving faith. Look upon them, Lord, as You do on us, in Your great mercy.  Our hope is in Your mercy. As a servant looks to the hand of his master, so we look to You, O Lord. Thank You, Father, that “Your eyes are toward the righteous and Your ears toward their cry” (Psalm 34:15).

Gracious Father, eternal praises be unto You for the Church of Jesus Christ. I thank You for grafting each of us into the body of Christ. Thank You, Father, that You are working out Your glorious purposes, in spite of all the deception and heresies that have crept into the professing church. Who can thwart Your purposes? Thank You, that we have the guiding light of Your word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit’s work of convicting sinners of sin, righteousness and judgement through the faithful preaching of Your word. Thank You, that You are adding to the Church, and thank You that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ. Bless, strengthen and uphold all Your servants; in particular, uphold all that are engaged in the ministry of Your Word. We rejoice in You. May Your holy Name be unceasingly hallowed in Your Church, in Jesus’ precious Name, Amen.