prayer for January

Dear Lord, as we begin a new year, with fresh hopes, dreams, and goals, I pray that our primary desire would be to serve you and that our goals would be aligned with your desires for our lives. I thank you that your mercies are new every morning and it doesn’t take a January 1st to start over when we’ve fallen short. Please help us to be merciful with others as you are merciful with us.

Matthew 6:33 — seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you (RRV — Robin’s remembering version). I thank you that I don’t have to worry about daily things, but that if I follow you, all that I need will be provided. Thank you that what I want isn’t always what I need and that you protect me from things that I shouldn’t have by saying No.

I pray that as a church we would draw close to you through your word; that we would know your commands and follow them, even the difficult ones like “love your neighbor.” May the fruit of the spirit grow in us. May those around us see Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Faithfulness and Self-Control when they look at our speech and our actions. May we look different than everyone else.

I pray as things move forward with the vaccine program here, that both leaders and residents would act with wisdom and not react out of fear. I pray for those who are required to take the vaccine because of their job. Lord, please protect them, help it to be effective, and may it be the thing that brings this sickness to an end in this country.

I pray for those who are making a decision regarding vaccination. I pray that you’d give them wisdom and assurance for the choice they have to make. I pray that you would open doors and close them, making the way clear. I pray that decisions wouldn’t have to be made based on coercion or fear, but that people would have freedom and autonomy over their bodies.

And I pray for those who are resisting on principle (ME!). That you would either strengthen or weaken resolve as required. I’m willing to do whatever for the sake of the gospel, but I don’t want to be unwise OR unnecessarily stubborn. I don’t have the answers and I pray that you would provide them to those who are similarly struggling.

I pray for those students who are going back to school. I pray that they would be able to go back without any delays and that they’d be able to remain in school. I pray for both mental and physical health as they get readjusted to being back in a classroom and around others — some for the first time in 11 months! I pray that education would be a priority and that the government would do everything possible to bring back much of what has been lost. Sports, clubs, service activities, community building events . . . so many are struggling with feeling disconnected and purposeless. I pray that you would restore what has been lost. Above all I pray that when people feel lost, that it would drive them to be found by you.

I pray for the economic health of UAE and its residents. All of the economic losses of the past 12 months are adding up and the full extent of the damage isn’t known yet. Father, please bring blessing to this country and shower it financially (and with literal rain, we can always use rain).

Finally I pray for security and safety. I thank you that we live in such a peaceful country and that it provides security to all of us. I pray that peace will remain. I thank you for the restoration of the relationship with Qtar and pray that they will continue to unite and strengthen relationships with other countries in the region. Thank you for how you have blessed us through living here and I pray that will continue. Amen.