As the year is coming to a close, we naturally pray thanksgiving prayers for the blessings of the past year. Our old nature tends to look ahead to the next year and pray, saying, “Lord bless me in the New Year.” There is nothing wrong with that. The Lord’s Prayer says we can pray, “Give us our daily bread,” so praying for your needs and wants is legitimate. But to be people who follow the footsteps of Christ, we want to pray for others. Also, scripture tells us to pray for others (James 5:16, 1 Timothy 2:1, Ephesians 6:18).
Here are some prayer points for the New Year to help you pray for others.
These prayer points are purposefully open-ended.
Since there are many, read the list a few times and wait on the Holy Spirit to direct you on which ones to pray over.
Reread the ones that you feel the Holy Spirit wants you to pay about a few times and wait in silence for the Holy Spirit to partner with you, giving you direction on how to pray. He may give you something general to pray about, or he may bring to mind a person or situation he wants you to pray for. (Sometimes people who pray this way later discover that they were praying for a great need they were not aware of, and their prayers brought a needed victory or deliverance. Imagine you may be the one to pray such a prayer!)
New Year's prayer points.
- Pray for any of our brothers and sisters who are answering God's call to make a new start in the new year.
- Pray for any of our church members who are entering into a new season in life this year, not of their own choosing.
- Pray that all who fellowship with us will grow in their Christian walk.
- Pray for anyone who may be starting a new career, taking on a significant project, or accomplishing a long-awaited goal.
- Pray that every church member has deep, meaningful relationships within our church body and with others.
- Pray for anyone in our church who needs restoration with God or others.
- Pray that God gives the gift of repentance to those who are burdened with sin.
- Pray for anyone who needs renewal in their relationship with the Lord or relationships with others.
- Pray for anyone who meets with us who has not yet made Jesus their personal Lord and Savior.
- Pray that some in our community who are seeking meaning and purpose will find our church, where they can hear the Gospel.
Grace and Peace
A. E. Dozat
"CUM PARRHESIA PRECARE!” Latin for, PRAY WITH BOLDNESS!
