Father,
As the New Year approaches, I praise You for Your promise to “make all things new.” This promise refers to the gloriously planned day when You will restore all things into a new heaven and earth (Is. 65:17; Rev. 21)! This is my sure hope! I’ll live in a sinless world (Rom. 8:21), with a resurrected body like Jesus (1 Cor. 15:23), living with and actually seeing You (Rev. 22:4), restored, pure, and holy as I enjoy eternity with others who’ve placed their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.
I can’t wait!
Thing is…I am waiting. And it’s so hard. Living with suffering means I’m often hurting, scared, sorrowing, and groaning along with all of Your creation that’s affected by the curse of sin (Rom. 8:22). It’s why everyone since Genesis 3 suffers…and dies. And Your Word details that there will be much suffering between now and that glorious day.
Please give me Your hope in the new things You’re doing in this new year.
No more let sins and sorrows grow
nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
(“Joy to the World,” Watts. I., 1719 )
All things new because You’ve made me a new creation in Christ
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezek. 36:26 CSB).
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives IN me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20 CSB, emphasis added).
Because I’ve placed my trust in Jesus for salvation, You’ve already made me a new creation! This is what “counts” in Your sight! What grace! You’ve done all of this!
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation (Gal. 6:15 ESV).
All things new, every day of my earthly life in its suffering
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
Because of Your faithful love, Your mercies never end. They’re new every single morning (Lam. 3:22-23). Nothing will ever separate me from Your love in Christ Jesus, ruling and glorious Lord (Rom. 8:28-39). Your Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in me right now, and is conforming me more and more into being like Jesus (Rom. 8:10-11, 29-30)! You’re transforming me into Your image (2 Cor. 3:18), yes, through this suffering. It’s all in Your great love for me, as You loved Your perfectly righteous Son…who suffered more than I ever will.
Help me put on my new self this New Year
My new self is according to Jesus’ righteous likeness, Lord (Eph. 4:24). Today and in the new year to come. So, as Jesus did, help me to…
This suffering is such a time of temptation. I desperately need Your help. Help me to take off the “old self” thoughts and put on my new, righteous self, fully loved as Your adopted daughter “in Christ.” This year, help me to continually tell You everything I’m feeling, please speak to me through Your Word, and keep me hoping for the day when I’ll see You. I can’t possibly do this without Your indwelling Spirit’s power and continual grace…so this brings You all the glory!
All glory be to Christ, who is making me new in this New Year!
Each day, bring a new song to my “being-transformed” heart (Ps. 33:3; 96:1; 144:9; 149:1)!
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
It’s not a time of resolutions, mustering up, or knuckling down. It’s a new year of simply coming to You with every need, abiding in Your love, and trusting Your Word.
Help me to re-turn to You, no matter what this year brings.
You are the author and finisher of my faith, Lord Jesus (Heb 12:2). You are reigning right now (1 Cor. 15:25), and You promise to bring me home to You (Eph. 1:11-14).
So, all glory be to Christ, my King, and my Lord!
In His glorious name, amen.
A New Year’s prayer through a playlist
As the New Year approaches, I’m suffering and so are you. This week’s playlist sing-prays to God, asking Him to grow us in Christ, in our minds, souls, hearts, and lives. It sings to Jesus that we need and love Him, asking Him to plant His Word in us, helping us to trust His will in this hard suffering. It asks God to give us kingdom hope in this new year, as we praise Him.
I’ve heard from so many who are being tempted to turn away from Him because they’re suffering. Oh, sister in Christ, let’s fight that temptation just as Jesus did, with His Word. Let’s turn to Him in our need, singing truths of His Word into this New Year!
As you read this, I’m even asking Him to give us all His joy, in the process.
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns:
let men their songs employ;
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Praying this week’s playlist and the other resources will help you as He’s helping me with them!
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Devotional Bible study prayer journals for sufferers. Click pictures for details.
