THE 3 MOST POWERFUL PRAYERS TO BEGIN THE NEW YEAR

There are so many ways we can begin a new year: make resolutions, write out goals, or select specific words. But if you want to start this coming year with power and purpose, may I suggest beginning with these powerful new year prayers?

WHY START THE NEW YEAR WITH PRAYERS?

Depending on how the last year has been for you, you may approach a new year with eager anticipation (out with the old, in with the new!), cautious optimism (okay, let’s hope for the best!), or fearful dread (oh no, not this again!).

Honestly, I can easily combine all three: anticipation, optimism, and fear, depending on who I talk to, what I watch, or where I am.

• If I feel hopeful, I grab my planner and map out my goals, dreams, and aspirations.
• If I am unsure, I try to look to others for hope and inspiration.
• If fear threatens to consume me, I escape to another world by reading or watching a movie.

Maybe you have used these strategies too. Or have others you go to when life seems out of control.

But whatever approach I choose, it never seems to work for very long. I lose motivation, I lack direction, or I languish in uncertainty.

And that is when I decided to return to the source of all truth, wisdom, comfort, direction, and peace: God’s Word.

And the Bible tells us to bring everything to God in prayer.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Look at those verses one more time. Do you notice these commands?

Don’t worry.

Pray about everything.

Tell God what you need.

Thank Him.

Experience supernatural peace.

Live in Christ.

NEW YEAR PRAYER 1: A PRAYER FOR SIMPLICITY

LORD, UNCLUTTER MY LIFE

A lot of clutter can accumulate over a year, and our souls can absorb the negativity of regrets, pain, and disappointment. We can also stuff ourselves full of unnecessary things to satiate deeper longings. In both cases, we need to invite God into the decluttering process. One of the first new year prayers we should pray is, “Lord, unclutter my life.”

Lord, help me now unclutter my life, to organize myself in the direction of simplicity.

Lord, teach me to welcome change, instead of fearing it.

Lord, I give you the stirrings inside of me,

I give you my discontent, I give you my restlessness,

I give you my doubt, I give you my despair,

I give you all the longings I hold inside.

Help me listen to these signs of change, of growth;

To listen seriously and follow where they lead.

~ Anonymous

This is a simple prayer of surrender, asking God to take away the junk and allowing Him to fill the empty spaces with His love, joy, peace, and faith. The prayer for simplicity releases our doubt, discontent, and disappointment, and it enables us to begin the new year by asking the Holy Spirit first to fill us and then lead us.

BIBLE VERSES FOR SIMPLICITY

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)

…for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

NEW YEAR PRAYER 2: A PRAYER FOR VISION

LORD, UNCOVER MY EYES

Once we allow God to clear the clutter, our following prayer should ask for eyes to see, ears to hear, and an open and willing heart. It is easy to begin a new year with detailed plans, lofty goals, and big dreams, especially if the previous year included disrupted plans, unmet goals, and unfulfilled dreams. We want to place ourselves firmly in charge and be the masters of our destinies. A new year provides the opportunity to begin again, which is a good thing, but we need to ask God to help us see first.

Grant us vision, Lord,

To see what we can achieve

To reach beyond ourselves

To share our lives with others

To stretch our capabilities

To increase our sense of purpose

To be aware of where we can help

To be sensitive to your Presence

To give heed to your call.

~ Celtic Prayer “Beyond Ourselves”

However, before we jump headlong into the unknown, we must know who to follow and where we are going. That is why a new year prayer for vision is so crucial before we begin the journey. Only God can illuminate the path and show us our next right step.

BIBLE VERSES FOR VISION

In their hearts humans plan their course,

    but the Lord establishes their steps.“

Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths.“

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

NEW YEAR PRAYER 3: A PRAYER FOR GUIDANCE

LORD, UNLEASH MY PURPOSE

Uncluttering our souls and uncovering our eyes prepares us to step into our purpose. When we surrender to God’s will and ask Him to show us the way, we need to take the next right step by faith. As we begin the new year, this final prayer is one for guidance and strength.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you…

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this,

you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

~Thomas Merton

Whether we stand at the gate of a new year with anticipation, uncertainty, fear, or a mixture of all three, we need to acknowledge our inability to see the future and our dependence on an all-knowing God. Adopting a posture of humility enables us to fully trust God to lead us down the right road.

BIBLE VERSES FOR GUIDANCE

Go stand at the crossroads and look around.

    Ask for directions to the old road,

The tried-and-true road. Then take it.

    Discover the right route for your souls.“

Jeremiah 6:16 (MSG)

Your own ears will hear him.

    Right behind you a voice will say,

‘This is the way you should go,‘

    whether to the right or to the left.“

Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

FREE PRINTABLE PRAYERS FOR THE NEW YEAR

I hope this post has encouraged you to start the new year with these bold and powerful prayers for simplicity, vision, and guidance. I have created beautiful graphics for each prayer that are free for you to download and print. Use these prayers for inspiration and share them with others.

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