We praise You for every seat that has been filled here, today. For each mind and heart that fills the presence of this room, we thank You! Father, as we gather together, we praise You for this day and Your purpose in it. Reset our agendas, refocus our intentions and our hearts to You!

We praise You for both the local and the universal church. We know that when your people gather together, You always have a divine agenda and we love You for that, Father!

In the days of this new year, may we feel Your love – love that surrounds us, love that will not let us go but will instead bring us back – back to Your side, back to Your will, back to Your way!

As we look back over the last year, we are not proud of the mistakes we made. And, we are not proud of some of the things we did and said. Too often, God, we are more conscious not of our triumphs and successes but of our failures…We seek Your forgiveness for the blindness of our hearts, for the wrong choices that grieved You and took away from our own happiness. Will You forgive us, Father?

Humbly and gratefully we open our hearts to receive Your grace which surpasses all of our understanding. We thank You for Your Spirit which comes to bring us refreshment, cleansing, and perfect peace – Your faithfulness, power, might, and provision none can withstand –open our eyes to the salvation you have brought us in and through your son, Jesus Christ! And, help us to rejoice in your whole creation so that through it we may learn to serve you with gladness.

God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus. But, like sheep we all have gone astray. Like sheep, we all are tired – tired of missing Your path and stumbling along paths of our own choosing. Take away the arrogance and the hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth.

Let Your will be done; Father! Steer our desires and motives to align with Your righteous will. Help us to know and understand the full scope of your character and will. Take what we have prepared and multiply our efforts as only You can. And, remind us of Your faithful provision when our efforts fail us or fall short. Guard our hearts and minds from pride and selfishness. Keep agape love at the forefront of our minds. May all glory go up to You!

We pray for your holy Church; that it may be so guided and governed by your Spirit that it may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it – do this for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior!

We pray for our troubled world held captive by suspicion, fear, animosity, and greed among many other things. May Your Spirit strive mightily with the leaders of the nations as they seek to provide the people of the earth peace with one another. Almighty God guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth and establish among them Your peace which is the fruit of righteousness so that we may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Impress upon our minds and hearts that until we are at peace with You, we can be at peace with no one; freedom can exist nowhere unless it exists everywhere; the strength of nations does not lie in armies or technology or economy but in the integrity of its people – peace is born out of righteousness – the trouble with our world still has to do with our hearts and the desires of our hearts – make us willing to be changed from the inside out, Lord!

Lift our eyes to seek You first today and always. Help us to surrender our urge to achieve, understand, and be known. And, help us to seek You and Your peace above all else. Renew strength and give us godly courage to obey You without questioning. And, forgive us for striving beyond our means causing us to worry to the point of anxiety.

Restore our hearts to Your truth and let it fuel our faith in You as a good Father and a steadfast provider, sustainer, protector and shield. Inspire and empower us through Your Word to be better witness of Jesus so that all may know the power of His forgiveness and the hope of His resurrection now and forever. May all glory go up to You today and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!