Father, You know our heart and You are familiar with all our ways. You endure our childish expectations but desire that we grow in our trust toward You by turning all our affairs over to You. There are things we’ve been praying about, not just in 2010, but for many years. Just because we’re filling out a new calendar doesn’t assure us that everything unpleasant will go away, that all will be new and better. Trials will inevitably work themselves into our schedule, without our choosing the nature of the trial or its debut. In this new year we reaffirm our commitment to follow You wholeheartedly, trust You implicitly, and serve You zealously. In the name of Jesus we praise You and thank You for this new year that is dawning in our lives. Amen.

Father, we embark upon another year with Your guidance and presence in all that we undertake, all that we endure, and all that we accomplish. May we be mindful not of ourselves first, but of those who journey with us day after day. Let us be quick to encourage, ready to reach out, and faithful to pray for our brothers and sisters. Above all, keep us growing in Your grace and knowledge this year of 2014. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Father, when I lean on my own understanding I fall prey to thinking in the natural and limit the work of the supernatural. But when I trust You with all my heart I leave no room for second guessing. Today I want to acknowledge Your presence in every area of my life…family, work, relationships, health, intellect and every other area of my life. You will bring to pass the plans You have for me as I wholeheartedly trust You for all that concerns me. Amen. 

Father, in the same way that we grow hungry before mealtime, stir up a hunger within us for the spiritual food You provide through the living Word of God. You are the Bread of Life who provides physically and spiritually for our daily needs. Following a hearty meal we often linger around the dinner table considering the tastiness of our meal. When we “taste and see that the Lord is good” we want to linger in Your presence and consider Your goodness, offering praise to You for all that You are and all that You provide for us. Bread of Heaven feed us until we are truly satisfied and filled with all the good things that come from You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Father, we share the sentiment Paul expressed when he wrote, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” Our hope is not limited to this earthly existence, but rather it flourishes and yields growing anticipation as we contemplate the blessed future event of our Lord’s soon return. Being aware of our unworthiness and inclination to sin gives us all the more motivation to fix our hope on You. We want to set our affections on things above, not on things of this earth, for we are dead to the world and our life is hidden with Christ through You, Father. Purify our thoughts, actions, and conversation as we with renewed determination fix our hope on the Everlasting One. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.