My youngest son sent out a message to his siblings and me encouraging us to start the New Year by fasting and praying on New Year’s Day. He said, “I have the feeling we will have to face some tough challenges ahead as Christians and we need to decide how we will respond before we actually get into the situations.” I asked him what he felt we should be praying for and he sent me the following:
- Restore friendships and create new ones.
- Help us to be humble not by trying to think less of ourselves but by thinking of ourselves less.
- Bring truth into the lives of friends who have departed from your path.
- Show us ways to bless our community and not be passive inhabitants.
- Let us be examples of peace and courage not turmoil and fear.
- Help us not to make health and politics our idols and put them before God and neighbor.
- Remind us to enjoy the beauty and wonder of your creation and allow your creation to refresh our soul.
- Help us to be present with those around us and not distracted by feeds.
- Bend the hearts of our political leaders towards your will and surround them with those who speak truth.
- Let us cultivate habits that bring us closer to truth and fill us with your peace and presence.
May we enter the New Year focusing on the Lord and our need for him to work in our lives and in the life of our nation.
Reading: Isaiah 58