Peace That Guides the New Year - Your Nightly Prayer - January 9th

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Your Nightly Prayer

Peace That Guides the New Year
Your Nightly Prayer
By Angie Grant

TONIGHT'S SCRIPTURE

"Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:7

SOMETHING TO PONDER

There is something incredibly satisfying about opening a brand-new box of crayons. Everything is perfect, on point, and full of possibilities. The peace of God is a lot like that- no matter what last year looked like, no matter the mistakes or challenging circumstances, God is all about a fresh start. Just as that box of crayons waits to create something new, God's peace guides our hearts and renews our minds, without fear or anxiety.

When you open a new box of crayons, everything feels orderly- there is nothing broken and nothing missing. In that same way, the peace of God brings order to our hearts and minds, the things inside of us. Even in times when difficulties come our way through relationship struggles, health challenges, or just the fact that we live in a broken world with broken people, His peace has a way of settling us, bringing perspective and calm to our hearts.

Another thing a new box of crayons does is invite creativity without fear of needing to be perfect; that blank sheet of paper can turn into anything you'd like. God's peace tells us the same thing- you don't have to be perfect, just stay with me! We can walk into a new season, or a new year, with courage and joy. What new thing have you been wanting to try?

What do you sense God calling you to in this upcoming year? His peace has a way of leading and guiding us as we surrender our tomorrows and trust Him for the things and places He's calling us to.

Every crayon represents a color that awaits brightening a page- in the same way, God's peace that brightens the unknown that this new year holds. For some, the unknown is never defined as peaceful, but God's peace reassures us that He is already in our tomorrow.

Eventually, our crayons break, the labels get worn, and the colors get mixed. But unlike crayons, God's peace never fades; it never disappears or runs out. It's steady. We, on the other hand, have seasons where steadiness is not how we would define ourselves. Times when life happens, and we have moments of doubt that God even sees what we're going through. It's in these moments where we pray for that peace that we find in Philippians 4:7- "And the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. " Notice, it doesn't say, "And the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in our own strength." - It's a reminder that we need Jesus to equip us with His peace, not human peace, which is temporal. Yet the peace He brings, which is eternal. In this upcoming year, let peace be our portion- He so longs for us to walk in His peace.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Dear Jesus,
Help our minds to be calm and our hearts to rest in you as we navigate the start of a new year. May we remember that you have good plans for your children, and I am your child. When I feel unsteady, may you steady me with your peace and love. I long to walk in your peace that guides my steps and quiets my mind.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. What areas of my life do I most need a "fresh start" this year, and how might inviting God's peace into those areas help change my perspective?

2. What feels out of order in my heart or mind? How can I surrender those places to experience the steadiness of God's peace?

3. What new thing do I sense God inviting me into? How can I best trust the peace of God to help guide my steps as I move forward into new territory?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Angie Grant Angie Grant is passionate about helping others become the best versions of themselves—whether in family life, ministry leadership, or in supporting schools and educators. She’s all in! Her greatest joys—besides Jesus and her husband, Stan—are the four who call her “Mom” (three biological and one through the gift of adoption). An even sweeter title? “Lolli” to her five grandkids.

Angie holds a degree in Child and Family Studies and currently serves on the staff at Cloverhill Church, where she and her husband have been leading for over 25 years. She is the Executive Director of Cloverhill Christian Academy, located in Midlothian, Virginia. Angie is a dedicated advocate for foster children and families, and also serves as a Trust-Based Relational Intervention Practitioner, offering support in her community and beyond. In addition to her roles in church and education, Angie contributes her insight and leadership as a board member for Families First and the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.

How does she do it all? With purpose and passion—as a coach in family life, ministry, and schools, Angie brings experience, empathy, and a heart for helping others thrive.

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