New Year Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Lord, thank you for being father, for safeguarding my little part of this huge world in 2012; for protecting my marriage, my children, my family, my home. Thank You for being In Charge, Awesome, and greater than anything I can understand.

They kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven.

In 2013, please show me the work You have for me to do. Let me be a part of making this community a better place, of comforting those who are hurting. Teach me to see with Your eyes, with compassion, and view people with delight! Give me the strength and unselfishness to be part of the solution for this broken world.

Give us this day our daily bread;

Please, Lord, continue to provide for our needs! (I’d certainly be thankful for our wants as well!) I’ll regard the basics with pure gratefulness – a roof overhead, warmth, full tummy, love are daily proof of your provision for my family.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Remind me to stay off of my high horse, to realize how much I have to learn and recognize how many times I just plain mess up. Keep me humble, with a clear view of myself that is neither inflated or depreciated. Let that knowledge give me an attitude of grace and forgiveness, flowing out of the truth I am wretched without You…

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Protect me from things that will destroy this world but most especially from pride. Though heart break is featured daily in most headlines, I trust You to continue to extend Your grace to keep me and mine off of the top fold of the newspaper…

For Thine is the kingdom, and the glory, and the power forever.

No matter what 2013 brings, You are God. In all circumstances, the joy, the despair. You Are. And because You are, You deserve my all. So be it.

Amen.