PRAY IN YOUR NEW YEAR

December 31, 2024

But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:15

1. PATTERNS FOR GROWTH. As we move into the New Year and do some fresh planning or New Year’s resolutions, I have this simple pattern I have written down in the blank pages of my Bible that helps me: Pray, plan, then pray about the planning, then do things, and then pray some more about it. We don’t want to get ahead of God, and we don’t want to lag behind God. We want to be in God’s perfect will. Years ago, I visited a church with my wife in another state; a guest pastor was preaching an outline that inspired me, and I wrote it down in the back pages of my Bible. Those pages in the back of your Bible—use them! Write down major things. As we cross over from December to January, let these five points help direct your prayer, planning, and action in 2025.

PRAY:
• For the removal of obstacles.
• For spiritual growth.
• For increased love.
• For God’s perfect will.
• With the end in mind.

2. REMOVE THE OBSTACLES & HAVE SPIRITUAL GROWTH. The good news is that as we remove obstacles, we will gain ground and experience spiritual growth. My dad loved to landscape, and he taught my brother and me how to weed the flower patches around our house. We, in our own lives, need to remove growth inhibitors. Maybe you need to cut back on TV watching so you can increase Bible reading. So, as we make New Year’s resolutions, let’s resolve to evaluate and remove what’s hindering spiritual growth and grow up in all aspects into Him. 

3. TARGET INCREASED LOVE. “And He [Jesus] said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind'” (Matthew 22:37). Ask yourself, “What would help me love God more?” I’m going to attend church regularly. I’m going to go to prayer meetings. I’m going to seek God. I’m going to love my wife, my kids, my neighbors. I’m going to love my enemies. I’m going to spend time in the Word. I’m going to start my day with Jesus. As we focus on removing obstacles, increasing our love walk, and targeting spiritual growth—believing for God’s perfect will in Jesus’ name, all with the end in mind—God will help us!

PRAY THIS PRAYER:
God, thank You for helping me target what is important to You in 2025. I dedicate the year to You and Your plans. Show me how to plan for this year; show me where to take action. I pray for the removal of any obstacles in my life. Help me to grow up in all aspects in You and have increased love. I pray for Your perfect will in my life as I keep the end in mind. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

God bless You!
Pastor Jeff Perry

ob·sta·cle, noun
Something that stands in the way or opposes. Resistance. Something which hampers or stops action or progress.

^{Copyright © 2024 St. Louis Family Church, All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reprinted or distributed in any form without prior written permission of St. Louis Family Church. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved. Obstacle, N. (1). Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam CO., 1971, p. 1558}