A New Year’s Prayer

Dear Father,

God of our yesterdays,
our today,
and our tomorrows.

Thank You for the year behind us
and for the year ahead.

Help us in the new year
to fret less and laugh more.

To teach our children to laugh
by laughing with them.

To teach others to love by loving them.

Knowing, when You came to the stable
in Bethlehem, You came for us

So that You could be with us,
and we could know You.
and share You with others.

Help us to see You in every sunrise,
in the beauty of the flowers all around us,
in the stories of our old folks,
and the fantasies of our children.

Help us to stop and listen to Your voice
so we may know You more and more.

Thank You for another new year
and for new mercies every morning.

Fill us with peace,
and love, and hope,
that we might spread them to others.

We leave the past in your hands,
and step out into the unknown new year
knowing You will go with us.

We accept this new year as a gift from You
and we rejoice in what's ahead,
depending on You to help us
do exactly what You want us to do.

Because of You our hearts are filled with joy!

In Jesus name,
Amen.

adapted from unknown