Thank you Lord, that you make all things new. “…if anyone is in Christ, HE IS A NEW CREATION; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become NEW.” (2 Corin. 5:17) Thank you Lord, for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us HOW MUCH WE NEED YOU and rely on your presence filling us every single day.
We pray for your Holy Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else. We ask that you will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask that you would help us let go of things to which you’ve said “no”, “not yet”, or “wait.” We ask for help to SEEK YOU FIRST, above every dream and desire you’ve put within our hearts. We also ask you for a renewed determination in OUR PRAYER LIVES FOR AMY.
Now what is the cause of most backslidings? I believe, as a general rule, one of the main causes is neglect of private prayer. The daily act of private prayer itself if hurried over, or gone through without heart: these are the kind of downward steps by which many a Christian descends to a condition of spiritual apathy. Jesus said: “…when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret WILL REWARD YOU OPENLY.” (Matt. 6:6)
-Bill Stockham