My wish for you in 2008 is that you may have more laughter than tears, more patience than intolerance and hurry, more smiles than frowns, more joy and happiness than pain, more forgiveness than bitterness, more love than hate.
I also wish for you: an abundance of happy memories; a thirst for knowledge; eyes that appreciate the beauty and wonder of nature; a spirit that sees the best in people; the thrill of a major accomplishment; a healthy heart, mind, body, and soul; a desire to be a better person; the joy of friendship and love; the satisfaction of a job well done; the gift of forgiving past hurts; and a heart open to accept the love of God.
May God touch your heart in 2009 to love more sincerely, give more generously, speak more carefully, live more compassionately, trust more completely, forgive more willingly, praise Him more heartfully, and proclaim Him more boldly. May you love without limits, praise without boundaries, live without fear, walk in grace, take more risks, spread more joy, and laugh more often.
Deuteronomy 10:21 – He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. Numbers 6:24-26 – The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
For 2010: May you be awakened to the arms of Christ surrounding you, the love of Christ uplifting you, the peace of Christ filling you, the words of Christ guiding you, and the scars of Christ comforting you. May you laugh often, forgive often, repent much, pray much, give more, believe more, love always, and praise always.
May you cherish the moments big and small, may you hear the whispers of His call. May you praise His goodness through the good and bad, may you remember His love through the happy and sad. May you share the blessings you have and will receive, may you always be thankful for the choice to believe. Stop for a moment to pause and reflect, look and listen for God as you never fail to expect.
1 Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
In 2011, may you realize the love surrounding you, the grace enabling and directing you, the forgiveness cleansing you, the joy filling you, and the miraculous all around you. May your thankfulness be ever-present and your praise always heartfelt. May you find the joy in small moments and simple things. May every trial become part of your ministry, message, and worship.
In 2012 … may you have a year filled with more. More smiling, praying, believing, relaxing, enjoying life, enjoying family, sharing, enduring, exploring, love, laughing, playing, singing, dancing, patience, stepping out into the unknown, praising, wisdom, giving, hope, courage, strength, joy. More knowing that the love of God is unconditional and true! May you be filled with more/so much of God so there is no room for fear, doubt, or condemnation.
Blessing for 2013: May your heart be filled with compassion instead of anger, obedience instead of rebellion, praise instead of anxiety, and hope instead of fear. May you awaken each day to know the joy that comes from basking in the unconditional love of God.
Deuteronomy 10:21 – He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen.
My prayer for you in 2014 is that your fruit may be more fully developed (Gal 5:22-23): May you love without rules and restrictions. May joy be your constant companion, no matter what the circumstances. May you be a master and maintainer of peace. May you stand strong and confident in the midst of every trial, hard moment, and battle. May your words be less biting/critical and more encouraging. May you become a more generous person as you realize your purpose and potential. May you never waver in knowing and believing in the ever present, unconditional, full love of God. May you create (more) opportunities to enjoy laughter and fun. May you learn to appreciate the power of the pause before speaking or acting.
Touch the world around you with His light and love! Esther 4:14b – “Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom [your neighborhood, job, etc.] for such a time as this?”
In 2015, may your light become brighter and touch more lives. Let not your light be dimmed or hidden by emotions, circumstances, finances, health, troubles, worry, fear, pain, anger, frustration, eagerness, busyness, bitterness, jealousy, or work. May you always be a positive influence with an encouraging word, a loving touch, a warm smile, and a listening ear. May you inspire people toward the love of God. Light up the world with His love!
Matthew 5:14-16 – You are the light of the world … let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
In 2016, may you be OPEN.
Open to trying new and uncomfortable things.
Open to doing with fewer questions and faster obedience.
Open to saying “no” (as needed) to be available to Him.
Open to believing and dreaming bigger.
Open to trusting more readily and without reservation.
Open to taking the next (scary) step to expand your faith.
Open to thinking differently – more loving and less judging.
Open to unnumbered possibilities, unlimited blessings, unhindered paths, and unconditional love.
Luke 11:9 – So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
In 2017, may you TURN.
Turn fully to God. (Isaiah 40:28)
Turn fully to grace. (Romans 5:8)
Turn fully to repentance. (Psalm 51:16-17)
Turn fully to forgiveness. (Psalm 103:12)
Turn fully to joy. (Psalm 30:5)
Turn fully to peace. (John 14:27)
Turn fully to love. (Romans 8:38-39)
Turn fully to faith. (Matthew 21:21-22)
Turn fully to patience. (Matthew 5:44)
Turn fully to obedience. (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
Turn fully to endurance. (Romans 8:37)
Turn fully to wisdom. (James 1:5)
May you be amazed at His goodness.
May you be humbled by His graciousness.
May you be overcome by His compassion.
And may you be bold enough to (more) fully turn toward the One waiting to embrace you into His perfect and all-encompassing love.
Numbers 6:24-26 – The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.
My prayer for you in 2018 is that it is a year of NEW.
May you find God in those areas where you feel lost, alone, desperate, hopeless, anxious, or fearful so He can fill those places with His love and do a NEW work.
May you see your life and your circumstances with NEW eyes so you realize that God is always at work on your behalf and can see the truth that “God meant it for good”.
May you open your heart to God’s possibilities so that your faith grows with NEW revelations every day so no mountain is unconquerable.
May you take a NEW step each day in the direction of God’s purpose, being bold and fearless in walking toward His good will for your life.
May you find a NEW facet of His gift within you, so that your unique and beautiful voice echoes His love to the world around you.
May you find yourself loving people completely in NEW ways, with caring hands, compassionate deeds, and considerate thoughts that demonstrate Him.
May you have a NEW level of repentance, where you turn from your wants and ways to give your heart completely to God and His will.
May you find NEW meaning in the truth that every second of every day God says “You are Mine” and “I will be with you”.
May you find NEW strength every day in His unending love, His unsearchable grace, and His unfailing forgiveness.
1 Samuel 12:21 – And do not turn aside [from following the Lord]; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. (NKJV)
2018
Loving Father,
In 2018 we asked You for NEW – new work, new perspective, new insight, new boldness, new appreciation, new compassion, new surrender, new understanding, and new strength. Thank You for answering this prayer in all the ways You did – helping us to become better, stronger, and wiser.
2019
Now we are about to enter into 2019.
Help us in the new year to identify and then release all the “empty things” in our life. Help us to honestly look at our relationships, our choices, our thoughts, our habits, our hearts, and our words – so we can rewrite our stories.
- From chaos. Help us to see where we are creating turmoil instead of calm and following selfishness instead of You. Help us to redirect our lives to the peace that comes from quiet obedience instead of the pandemonium of following our reckless emotions.
- From feeling worthless. Help us to find things we are allowing to steal and undermine our value instead of adding to it. Help us to redirect our lives so we appreciate our value as Your special masterpiece of grace.
- From being without purpose. Help us to find where we have chosen our own path and stopped using our gifts. Help us to redirect our lives back to where You are in control and we choose to love people through the gifts You have given us.
- From disorder. Help us to find where we have allowed busyness to steal our focus and distract our worship. Help us to redirect our lives so we have true relationship with You and are aware of and grateful for Your presence in our daily lives.
- From confusion. Help us to find where comparison has stolen our beauty and commentary has caused us to question Your love. Help us to redirect our lives so we realize how amazing we are to You, through You, and for You.
- From desolation. Help us to find where we have given up hope and lost heart. Help us to redirect our lives so we grab onto Your grace with both hands and never let go of the potential waiting for us in Your love.
- From barrenness. Help us find where we have become lazy and comfortable – and stopped trying for more. Help us to redirect our lives so we willingly get up and say “yes” to You with a free and joyful heart.
Help us in 2019 to have the courage to look at all the components of our lives with total honesty – and then the boldness to change anything we find not leading us toward Your best life. Thank You for the grace You will shower upon each moment of each day in 2019 – to encourage us, challenge us, and support us through the process.
“If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn’t take it seriously, I don’t reject him. I didn’t come to reject the world; I came to save the world” (John 12:47 MSG).
As we face the end of one year and the beginning of a new one, please help us. Help us to let go of what has tried to stop us in 2019. Help us to go into 2020 with Your grace propelling us toward Your best life, Your best peace, and Your best joy.
Father, where we feel insecure, help us find the confidence of Your love.
Father, where we feel hopeless, help us see the possibilities of Your love.
Father, where we feel anxious, help us know the security of Your love.
Father, where we feel afraid, help us feel the comfort of Your love.
Thank You, Father, for the truth that You never reject us, never abandon us, and never forsake us. Thank You, Father, that we are never alone (no matter what our feelings tell us).
Thank You for helping us to let go of every anchor weighing us down, slowing us down, and dragging us down – away from the life preserver that is Your love, Your compassion, Your forgiveness, and Your grace.
Thank You for helping us to stand calm and feel confident in the middle of struggles and trials because we remember – and believe – that You are with us, You are for us, and You are preparing us for Your best.
Thank You for loving us enough to save us – as often as we need to be saved. From our own bad ideas. Our own bad intentions. Our own bad attitudes. Our self-righteous and self-centered thoughts, emotions, and actions. Our need to be right. Our refusal to see Your glory in people. Our stubbornness in accepting Your grace.
Thank You for seeing us through Jesus instead of who we think we are, who we condemn ourselves to be, and who we are judged to be.
Help us to remember every day of this new year that You love us. In every way possible. With every available resource. With all that You are. So we can be all that You have created us to be.
Luke 1:45 (NIV) – Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!
Loving Father,
Let 2020 be the year we become fully invested in relationship with You.
As we walk through the new year, I pray You give us the wisdom to make good decisions that lead us into the testimony of she who “believed and confidently trusted” (AMP) You with her life.
- Help us to have faith in You for our future – our relationships, our jobs, and our possessions.
- Help us to be committed to You with our finances – being generous, saving, and spending wisely.
- Help us to entrust You with our families – both biological and adopted, to not get in the way of Your purposes and plans.
Help us to work toward a complete life.
Putting our faith in You completely.
Believing in Your grace completely.
Trusting in Your provision completely.
Whether for the first time, in a return state, or in a new way …
Help us to trust You with our words.
Help us to trust You with our thoughts.
Help us to trust You with our attitudes.
Help us to trust You with our motivations and intentions.
Help us to believe …
That You are a faithful God who longs to bless us.
That You want to see the perfection (maturing) of our faith.
That You want to see the completion of our understanding.
That You want to see the performance of our love.
And in living for You, with You, and by Your Spirit, we will find ourselves more joyful and more well-off than we could ever expect otherwise. For “how happy is the woman who believes in God” (Phillips) and trusts that You, a God of immeasurable possibilities and “wonderful blessing” (TLB), will “do what he said” (TLB).
May 2020 be the year we more fully become the “blessed woman” (MSG) who has the boldness to believe that our contentment, our joy, our peace, our security – and everything we need – are found in You!
Marie's Hope 