A Prayer about the New Things God Will Do in 2026

by | Dec 31, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about the New Things God Will Do in 2026

Are you ready to see God do a new thing?

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Lord of New Things,

On this New Year’s Day, 

we celebrate all of the new things 

you have already done, 

and all of the new things 

you will one day do 

when Jesus returns.

We thank you for the very new thing 

you did at Christmas over 2000 years ago—

You sent your Son as a weak and weeping infant-king. 

We praise you for the redeeming work 

he has already done in our lives. 

We look forward to the new things 

you have planned to do in us this year.

How will we fulfill our created and re-created purpose 

to enjoy and glorify you this year?

May we not scribble shallow “resolutions” today 

that we will break by next week; 

may we write prayers of purpose, 

seeking your creative power 

to radically transform our lives, 

to make us people 

who love our families, our friends, 

our neighbors, and our enemies. 

May our resolutions be far less 

about what we will do in the coming year 

and far more about who we will become.

In Jesus’ transforming name. Amen. 

Read Isaiah 43:19-21. 

To spend more time praying and reflecting about the coming year, get Elizabeth’s January reflection journal.

A Prayer about Suffering with the Savior

by | Dec 30, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Suffering with the Savior

Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword shall pierce your soul also)…Luke 2:34-35

Comforting Father,

As this year draws to a close,

I know many who, like me, 

look forward to a new year, 

hoping that it will soften the harsh edges 

of last year’s grief, 

looking forward to new joys. 

May it be so. 

And yet, as we consider the words of Simeon 

to Mary and Joseph, 

we see that the call of a Christian 

is to know the abiding joy of our salvation 

even as we suffer piercing swords in our souls. 

Jesus was born to die. 

We are called to be reborn to die—

to our consuming agendas, 

to our self-salvation strategies, 

to our demand for certainty and control. 

Like Mary and Joseph, 

we are always richly blessed 

by our Savior. 

Like Mary and Joseph, 

we will at times endure piercing pain 

as we follow our Savior.  

May we embrace our calling 

with hearts of hope, 

knowing that our Savior 

“endured the cross” 

“for the joy set before him” (Hebrews 12:2) 

the joy of making us your beloved children. 

In the name of our Suffering Savior, Jesus, 

we pray. Amen.

Read Luke 2:33-35. 

A Prayer about Seeing Our Salvation

by | Dec 29, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Seeing Our Salvation

Have you seen your salvation?

Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation…Luke 2:29

Merciful God,

As we revisit this scene between Simeon 

and the eight-day-old Jesus, 

we pray you would write in us stories like Simeon’s:

May we be…

Filled with the Holy Spirit…

Made righteous by Christ…

Waiting for your consolation…

Watching for our Savior…

Seeing him as our one and only salvation…

Illuminating his glory to all the peoples…

Believing that he alone 

makes us ready to die in peace.

Knowing our Savior has come, 

may we wait with confident hope 

for the day he will come again 

and restore us to himself. 

Amen.

Read Luke 2:25-32. 

A Prayer about How to Wait for Redemption

by | Dec 28, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about How to Wait for Redemption

How do we wait well for redemption?

She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:37

Author God,

How we thank you for the many characters 

you’ve written into your redemption story 

who show us how to live the stories you’re writing in us.

The aged Anna, who was either 84 or 104, 

who knew many years of suffering as a poor widow, 

shows us how to wait well in unfinished stories. 

Although Anna had not yet met her Redeemer, 

she waited with hope. 

Unlike us, she found your presence only in the temple; 

we know your presence in the Holy Spirit 

who dwells in us. 

Anna’s worship was not confined to Sunday mornings.

We too can worship you every hour of every day 

as we surrender our agendas to you. 

Anna practiced fasting, sharpening her senses 

to recognize redemption when it came. 

We too can fast,

whether from food or screens, 

or by taking up sacrificial practices 

like serving others 

so that we will see your return more clearly. 

Anna prayed and offered thanksgiving, 

hourly, daily, constantly. 

We too want to “pray without ceasing,” 

and “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17),

for the gifts of redemption we already enjoy. 

Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, 

sought your face, 

and she recognized you when she saw you!

Seeing her Savior, she could not keep silent 

but spoke of you to all who were waiting for redemption. 

We too have seen your face, 

and we must share the good news of the gospel, 

the true meaning of Christmas, wherever we go!

In the name of our Redeemer, Jesus. Amen.

Read Luke 2:36-38.

A Prayer about Jesus’ Tears

by | Dec 27, 2025 | Daily Prayer

A Prayer about Jesus’ Tears

Do you know the Christmas carol that doesn’t get it quite right?

Jesus wept. John 11:35

Compassionate Lord,

Even though the day most people exchange gifts 

has come and gone,

or maybe especially because that day 

has come and gone, it’s a good time 

to contemplate this baby in the manger. 

Many of us love the Christmas lullaby 

“Away in a Manger,” 

but the authors may have gotten one thing wrong: 

“The little Lord Jesus, 

no crying he makes ….” 

That can’t be right.

Babies cry. 

They express their need 

for food, 

clean diapers, 

and sleep 

by crying. 

Though Jesus was fully God, 

he was also fully human, 

and he likely cried when he was a baby, 

(especially if cows were mooing in his ear.) 

Heavenly Father, may we never forget Jesus’ true humanity, 

but may we also believe in his deep sympathy, 

his passion for and with us. 

Not only did he cry as a baby, 

he wept as a man 

over his friend Lazarus’ death. 

Not only did he cry as a baby, 

he sweated blood  

as he agonized in the garden 

over his own impending death (Luke 22:39-46). 

Yes, Lord, Jesus wept. 

May we affirm the cries of the baby Jesus 

and may we trace the tears of our Savior, 

who was well acquainted with grief. 

Amen. 

Read John 11:28-44; Luke 22:39-46.