O Lord, you are as the shadow
of a great rock in a weary land,
who behold your weak creatures,
weary of labor,
weary of pleasure,
weary of hope deferred,
weary of self.
In your abundant compassion
and unutterable tenderness, bring us,
we pray,
into your rest.
Amen.
(From Prayers Ancient and Modern, by Christina G. Rossetti)
Dear Lord,I come to you today feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.
I confess that I have been trying to carry my burdens on my own.I ask that you quiet my racing mind and soothe my anxious heart.
I surrender every "what if" and every fear to you, laying them at Your feet.Please replace my fear with a peace that passes all understanding.
I choose to trust in your power rather than my own worries.
Remind me that you are with me, that you are my refuge and strength.
You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and discipline.Give me courage as I walk forward, trusting that I am never alone.In Jesus’ name, I pray.Amen.
Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray for your great mercy, that you guide us towards you, for we cannot find our way.And guide us to your will, to the need of our soul, for we cannot do it ourselves. And make our mind steadfast in your will and aware of our soul’s need.Strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and remove from us all lust and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen.Teach us to do your will, that we may inwardly love you before all things with a pure mind. For you are our maker and our redeemer, our help, our comfort, our trust, our hope.
Praise and glory be to you now and forever.
Amen
A prayer for those suffering:
Lord, bring to mind those in our lives who are suffering, and help us to be faithful in prayer for and service to them. We also ask that you strengthen your servants, scattered around the world, to be the hands and feet of Jesus—especially in places where war, violence, famine, and sickness are devastating families and communities.
Source: Ten Prayers for the New Year (Dennae Pierre) -
Christianity Today
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
-Psalm 62
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the extra daylight and the promise of a new season. As we 'spring forward' and adjust our clocks, help us to adjust our hearts to Your rhythm.
When we feel tired or disrupted, give us renewed strength and energy. Help us to make the most of this extra light to shine Your love in the world.
In Jesus' name, Amen
A prayer for the lonely:
Lord, you are the father of the fatherless, and you place the lonely in families. This year, help us join you in that work. Give us eyes to see those around us who may feel alone. Help us to notice the orphans, single parents, the elderly, the incarcerated, the homeless, and the refugees in our midst. Expand our capacity to be hospitable to those who desire belonging and family.
Source: Ten Prayers for the New Year (Dennae Pierre) -
Christianity Today
Dear Father,
I come to you seeking rest. I am weary from the demands of the day. I lay down my heavy burdens, my anxieties, and my racing thoughts at your feet.Help me to stop striving and start resting in your presence. As I step into the shelter of your love, I trust you to calm my spirit and quiet my mind.Thank You for the blessing of your presence.In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A prayer for the weary:
Lord, the last few years have been filled with sickness, death, job loss, isolation, anxiety, fear, and division. We are weary. In our weariness, we confess our cynicism and our skepticism and we ask for your renewal. Give us eyes to see the kingdom life Christ has promised—and fill us with a hope that allows us to live each day with soberness, generosity, and joy.
Source: Ten Prayers for the New Year (Dennae Pierre) -
Christianity Today
A prayer for relational healing:
Lord, there are many ways we fall short in our relationships. We failed to carry each other’s burdens, we harbored offenses, and we judged each other’s motives. Help us to confess our sins against each other. Help us to forgive and seek forgiveness. May your Spirit heal wounds and bring unity to fractured relationships—that we might love one another as you love us.
Source: Ten Prayers for the New Year (Dennae Pierre) -
Christianity Today
