A Prayer for Peace as the New Year Dawns - Your Daily Prayer - January 1
A Prayer for Peace as the New Year Dawns
By Keneesha Saunders-Liddie
Bible Reading:
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. - Isaiah 26:3
Listen or Read Below:
A new year typically signifies a new beginning, but our relationship with God is ongoing and enduring. Unfortunately, with so many uncertainties and trials in our lives, our focus can sometimes shift from God to the cares of this world. As a new year is upon us, let us pray that God would grant us peace.
Some people get so caught up in the world and its news that they worry and experience anxiety, while others remain unfazed by the events happening around them. They are the ones who don’t even get water and toilet paper before a storm comes because they are unconcerned. I don’t condemn either individual because I do think there should be a healthy balance between the two. But for the sake of our devotional today, I hope that every believer would be unfazed about their trust in God. If our minds are focused on God and who He is, and what He says, we will be in perfect peace when the storm comes.
Yes, you can still get the toilet paper and water. Yes, you can prepare for the invisible storms of life. And the way to do this is to keep looking to the author and finisher of your faith. It’s a new year and a chance to begin with God at the helm of your life. It doesn’t matter what the situation is; you can go through it because God is with you and you have His peace. Is there anything too hard for our God? Can we trust His promises? If He says you will have perfect peace when your mind is fixed on Him, will He not bring it to pass?
I trust that our God is able to do exceeding and abundantly more than we ask. The situation may be dire - maybe your loved one is suffering from cancer, maybe your family is dealing with grief, maybe your husband, who is the breadwinner for the family, has lost his job… but God has given you calm assurance. You're the one who is strong and holding it together for everyone because you know it is well. God has your back because He is for you, and He has given you peace because you've prayed, you’ve been in the Word, and you know what He has promised. You trust in His promises because they will come to pass.
We should be believers who are kept in perfect peace because we know the character of God and why we serve him. If I come to know God more and more, it lessens my worry, and I am reminded that no matter what happens, God still wins. When we know God, we can trust His plan. Our minds can be at peace with no racing thoughts, even if we are biting our nails and quaking in our shoes. God will keep me in perfect peace once I fix my focus on Him, because He is with me during the trials, the pain, and even the heartache. Our God is always ahead of us, leading the way. Let Him go ahead of you in this new year. Let God grant you peace through His promises. Trust in our God to do exactly what He has said!
Let’s Pray:
Almighty God and Father,
I’m so thankful for the peace you have granted me that surpasses all understanding. Help me to know you more and more, Lord. Help me to exercise trust in you, especially when I can’t see the outcome. I know in your word you said, “blessed are those who believe, and they have not seen.” So help me to keep my focus on you. This world has so many distractions, Lord, but I want to fix my eyes on you.
Help me to quiet my mind and pray when I feel tempted to worry. Remind me that you are in total control. Help me to trust in this new year because you are already ahead of me. You know the plans you have for me, and you will see them through. Allow me to trust in you rather than worrying about what this year will bring. Thank you for your peace that the world cannot give. True peace comes from you and you alone, dear Lord.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Oleksandra Yagello
Keneesha Saunders-Liddie is a wife and mom. She is an avid reader of wholesome romance novels and a writer. She has a Master's in Biblical Counseling as she believes in the sufficiency of Scripture. As a pastor’s kid, she fell in love with the way Jesus loved her at an early age and wants to encourage others to live for Him through her words. You can find more musings from her at keneeshaliddie.com
Related Resource: Let God Reframe Your Year: A Psalm 107 Year-End Reflection
As we wrap up our year together, I want to invite you into this meaningful spiritual practice: looking back on the year through the lens of Psalm 107 to identify the “fingerprints of God’s faithfulness. In this episode, we'll walk through four redemptive storylines found in Psalm 107—each representing a way God rescues, restores, and reorients His people. Whether you felt lost, trapped, wounded, self-destructive, or overwhelmed by storms, I encourage you to reflect on how God met you in weakness and brought deliverance. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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