Week of Jan. 29 - Feb. 4, 2012

Our gracious heavenly Father, we are thankful for new beginnings in this new year. It symbolizes a time to bring closure, a fresh start, and new opportunities. With hearts lightened, we now sing a new song to You, in acknowledgment that You are worthy of all our praise and glory. May our very lives be an offering of beautiful music to You. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

“I will sing a new song to You, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You.”

Psalm 144:9 (NIV)

Week of Jan. 22 - 28, 2012

Dear Father God, we come to You today knowing that You listen and answer our prayers. You are almighty God, powerful and loving. Lord, as this new year begins, we are reminded of Your Word, knowing that there is nothing impossible for You. Your hand is powerful. Your ear is ready to hear our prayers. Father God, help us to do Your will always. May we be pleasing in Your sight, and help us to rest in You, each and every day. We pray all this in the name of Your precious Son, Jesus. Amen.

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.”

-- Isaiah 59:1 (NKJV)

Week of Jan. 15 - 21, 2012

Heavenly Father, walk with me as I journey through life.
Take my hand and lead me with Your Holy Spirit.
Fill me, inspire me, free me to respond generously to Your call.
For I believe You desire my deepest joy,
And it is only in Your company that my soul will be satisfied
And my life will find its meaning and purpose. Amen.

(Author Unknown)

“If we love one another, God remains in us,
and His love is brought to perfection in us.
This is how we know that we remain in Him
and He in us, that He has given us of His Spirit.”

— 1 John 4:12-13 (NAB)

Week of Jan. 8 -14, 2012

Lord, we are thankful today that You are the God of hope, of possibilities, and all things new, even in adverse circumstances. We thank You for the new things You promise us today. Lord, we thank You for the hope we sense in the start of a new year, knowing that because of Your loving kindness, we can believe in a better future for our families and friends. We pray for those who have lost hope, that You would uphold the poor, the downcast, and the brokenhearted. We pray that You would create streams of blessings in their wastelands. All this we ask in the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen!

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."
(Isaiah 43:19) NIV

Week of Jan. 1 - 7, 2011

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Good Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

“Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

(Psalm 34:14, NIV)