I was at a Christmas party with my wife’s family about a week ago. I sat down on the couch next to one of her cousins, and we began catching up on the latest things that were going on in each other’s lives. I asked him about his new job, and he asked me how things at the church were going. After a few minutes of talking, he looked at me, and I could tell our conversation was about to change. He stared at me for a second and then asked, “How do I see more of God’s hand on my life in the coming year?”

If you want this year to be a year of seeing God do more in your life than ever before, prayer is the answer.

That’s a good question.

Whatever you need this year, whether it’s strength, courage, peace, or healing, you need the hand of God on your life to make it possible. If you want this year to be a year of seeing God do more in your life than ever before, prayer is the answer.

Timothy Keller, in his book on prayer, writes:

“Prayer is the only entryway into genuine self-knowledge. It is also the main way we experience deep change—the reordering of our loves. Prayer is how God gives us so many of the unimaginable things he has for us. Indeed, prayer makes it safe for God to give us many of the things we most desire. It is the way we know God, the way we finally treat God as God. Prayer is simply the key to everything we need to do and be in life.”

Keller continues…

• “Jesus Christ taught his disciples to pray, healed people with prayers, denounced the corruption of the temple worship (which, he said, should be a ‘house of prayer’), and insisted that some demons could be cast out only through prayer.
• He prayed often and regularly with fervent cries and tears (Heb. 5:7), and sometimes all night.
• The Holy Spirit came upon him and anointed him as he was praying (Luke 3:21–22), and he was transfigured with the divine glory as he prayed (Luke 9:29).
• When he faced his greatest crisis, he did so with prayer.
• We hear him praying for his disciples and the church on the night before he died (John 17:1–26) and then petitioning God in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Finally, he died praying.”

There are things we need God to do in our lives, but if we want to see Him do it, we must pray.

You may say, “I don’t even know where to start.” One of the best ways to start is by praying Scripture. Below are scriptures that speak to a variety of situations. Take time to read through them and once you do, let God build your faith, and ask Him to make them ring true in your life.

Scriptures to Pray over your Life in the New Year:

Scriptures for Anxiety

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 56:3
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Scriptures for Depression

Deuteronomy 31:8
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Psalm 34:17
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”

Psalm 40:1-3
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.”

Psalm 42:11
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Scriptures for Anger

James 1:19-20
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Proverbs 29:11
“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”

Proverbs 19:11
“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

Colossians 3:8
“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.”

Proverbs 16:32
“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

Scriptures for Grief

Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

John 14:1
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Scriptures for Freedom from Sin

John 8:36
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Galatians 5:1
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

Romans 6:22
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”

Colossians 1:21-23
“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Romans 8:1-4
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Scriptures for Needs

2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

Luke 12:24
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!”

Matthew 7:11
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

Philippians 4:19
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 23:1
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

Scriptures for Healing

Exodus 15:26
“For I am the Lord who heals you.”

Jeremiah 17:14
“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.”

Psalm 41:3
“The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.”

Jeremiah 30:17
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD”

Psalm 103:2-3
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

Scriptures for Courage

Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Psalm 27:14
“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 16:13
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.”

Scriptures for Strength

Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Isaiah 40:29
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:31
“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Nehemiah 8:10
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Scriptures for Assurance of God’s Love

Deuteronomy 7:9
“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”

Psalm 86:5
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.”

Psalm 136:26
“Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Romans 8:38-39
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I want you to know, long before this day, I have been praying for the moment when you would be reading these words. I truly believe, that what you are about to read is the most valuable and important message you could ever hear. So before you read on, I want to pray for you.

Heavenly Father,

I look to you on behalf of the beautiful life that is reading these words right now. I pray that as she encounters the truth of your son Jesus, and begins to understand all that He did for her, that the eyes of her soul would be enlightened and her heart would be open to receive all that you have to offer her.

And that, through your spirit and grace, she would have the faith to accept and believe it for herself.

Amen

What are you searching for?

Jesus is the answer to everything you have been searching for. And, you need to know that there is nothing about your past that would or could ever exempt or disqualify you from receiving what He has to offer you.

Jesus is the answer to everything you have been searching for.

No matter what sins you have every committed or are involved in right now, no matter what you have walked through in life, experienced, battled against, or been chained to in your past, it doesn’t change His mind about you. He loves you, and He wants to set you free from the bondage of your past, your sin, and your shame and give you a brand new life!

And, no matter where you are, reading these words in your car, at work, at school, at the park, alone or surrounded by activity–if you listen, you will hear these words being whispered to your soul. “Precious Daughter, I am the answer for all you have been longing for… I am absolutely everything you need!”

The truth is, we all need Jesus and He is all we need. We are all sinners. Not one of us is without sin. “For every one of us has sinned— and we all fall short (on our own) of God’s glorious saving presence” (Romans 3:23 PARA).

Without knowing and believing in Jesus and his forgiveness, you will forever be seeking to find a way to set yourself free from the bondage, guilt, and shame of your sin.

Sinfulness and the circumstances of our sin separate us from God, and keep us from experiencing the life God designed and intended us to live—a fulfilled, all-together abundant life, connected and in a relationship with Him.

And, the truth is that without knowing and believing in Jesus and his forgiveness, you will forever be seeking to find a way to set yourself free from the bondage, guilt, and shame of your sin.

Think about this for a second. Why do you feel the way you do? Why do you search for things to settle and distract your mind from your reality? Why does your heart and soul feel so empty and alone? The reason is this simple: you are longing to know and follow Jesus. He is the only answer that will set you free and put the pieces of your life in place.

We Can’t Change on Our Own

The Bible tells us this—that God, sent His son Jesus to earth to become the sacrifice for our sin and brokenness. He is the one and only way to freedom! “Jesus Christ (God’s son) made a single sacrifice for (your) sins, and that was it! By this single sacrifice, He did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in this purifying process (accepting His sacrifice for their sin)” (Hebrews 10 PARA).

Nothing on your own can or will be able to take away your sin – and make your life feel alive and free from shame, except knowing and following Jesus and asking Him to be your Savior.

Without the work of Jesus, your spirit, your soul, your inner person, is dead! And, no matter what you do to try to change that on your own…

• Go to church every weekend
• Try to stop doing bad things
• Say prayers morning, noon and night,
• Do good works–and a thousand penances

Nothing on your own can or will be able to take away your sin – and make your life feel alive and free from shame, except knowing and following Jesus and asking Him to be your Savior.

It is possible that this is where you find yourself today. Maybe you have been trying very hard to live life right, to be a good person. Perhaps you are just plain tired of what life has been like, and you are searching for an answer. Or, possibly you don’t feel good enough to receive the gift of salvation that Jesus has to offer you.

You Can Be A Brand New Person

I have wonderful news! It doesn’t matter how you feel about yourself…because none of us are or ever could be good enough to receive the gift of Salvation that He has to offer. All any of us have to do is believe and accept his love and forgiveness. Listen to what the Bible says to you today!

“Jesus Christ arrived right on time to make this happen. He didn’t and doesn’t wait for (you) to get ready. He died on a cross for you (to take your sin) even though you were far too weak and rebellious to do anything on your own. God put His love on the line for you by offering His Son Jesus as a sacrifice for your sin in spite of all you had done” (Romans 5 para).

And, this. “By entering through faith into what God has always wanted for (you) – to set you right with Him, make you fit for Him, you can have it all together with God because of His Son Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1&2 para).

Your sin—the guilt, emptiness, confusion, and questions within your soul—can be gone today.

That is so amazing! Your sin—the guilt, emptiness, confusion, and questions within your soul—can be gone today. Gone forever! And you can be a brand new person, the deadness and emptiness of your soul coming alive in an instant to the grace, beauty, and light of Salvation.

I have personally witnessed the transformation of a soul more times than I can count. It is altogether miraculous and beautiful. And it can happen to you!

How do we know Jesus?

All you have to do is this – “If you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 amp)

It is that simple. You may be thinking that seems too good to be true. It’s because it is simple and it is that easy for you to receive. All you need to do is acknowledge your sin and tell Jesus that you believe in Him, accept Him as Savior of your life, and tell him that you want to follow Him. You can do it right now. Just pray this prayer out loud.

Jesus, I want to ask you to come into my life and forgive me of my sin. I believe in you, that you came to die for me, paid the penalty for my sin and made way for me to be free from condemnation, guilt, and shame. From this day forward, I want to follow you and live every day of my life wholeheartedly serving you!

Amen

Congratulations, sweet girl! If you just prayed that prayer for the first time or possibly as a recommitment of your life to following Jesus, I am so excited for you! You just became a brand new creation – your sin and shame washed away by his grace. The Bible says that the Angels in Heaven are rejoicing over this decision you have made – because you are a big deal to God! This is the truly the best day of your life – as you begin a brand new journey of walking with Jesus!

My staff and I would love to hear from you so that we can be praying for you and help you grow in your decision and commitment to follow Jesus. You can contact us through the contact page on the website to tell us your story or ask for prayer.

Love you much – Debbie xo!