Here’s a prayer for the New Year
from Joanna Harader’s Spacious Faith blog.
Prayer for the New Year
God of new life,
God of life made new,
God of life made new,
We begin this new year as we
ended the last–
embraced by your spirit of love
your presence of peace
your gentle power.
embraced by your spirit of love
your presence of peace
your gentle power.
We leave behind the old year in
the knowledge that
whatever we have done in the service of selfish desire;
whenever we have participated in injustice;
however we have strayed from Jesus’ way;
You have forgiven us.
whatever we have done in the service of selfish desire;
whenever we have participated in injustice;
however we have strayed from Jesus’ way;
You have forgiven us.
Lead us now into the abundant
life of the new year.
Give us eyes to glimpse your presence in each moment.
Give us ears to hear the quiet promptings of your Spirit.
Give us hearts open to the joy and the pain of the lives that surround ours.
Give us eyes to glimpse your presence in each moment.
Give us ears to hear the quiet promptings of your Spirit.
Give us hearts open to the joy and the pain of the lives that surround ours.
We set our feet
once again
on the way walked by Jesus.
once again
on the way walked by Jesus.
These steps of peace may be
difficult
in a terrain that slopes toward violence.
These steps of justice may prove tiring
These steps of justice may prove tiring
as we walk against the winds of injustice.
These steps of love may be painful
These steps of love may be painful
with so much hatred to step over and bump up
against.
Give us the wisdom
Give us the strength
to take these steps anyway.
Give us the strength
to take these steps anyway.
Each day a new step.
Each step a faithful movement toward your kingdom.
Each step taken only by your grace
only in your power
our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.
Each step a faithful movement toward your kingdom.
Each step taken only by your grace
only in your power
our Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.
Amen.
