December 31, 2020 Prayer - Walking Forward into 2021

God of Hope,

Thank you that your steadfast love never ceases and your mercies never come to an end.  Thank you that you are our hope, our portion, and our salvation.  For many of us here on earth this has been quite the year.  Challenging circumstances may have mixed with great spiritual and relational growth.  Many of us are eager to leave the challenges of this year, warily hoping that 2021 will see an improvement in our world.  But help us not leave this year without sorting through the "bag" of 2020 so that we "pack" the correct things for the new year.  Help us to let go of the disappointments and struggles of this year.  Help us to know that our sins and failures of this year are nailed to Jesus's Cross, covered in his Blood, and that we are free to move into the present and the future without the burdens of the past.  Help us to press forward in faith as we follow the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.  Help us be strong in you, our Lord, and in the strength of your might.  Give us weapons of warfare we need - your Armor, but especially your Word. Help us to cling tightly to your promises as we listen to your WORD, not the "word" of the worldly news or gossip.  Keep our minds and spirits totally and completely focused on You so we can stay in the Holy Peace you intended for us.  May we trust you, feed on your faithfulness, lean into and trust your Grace, and know your great Hope.  Cause us to call out for your strengthening - so we may be spiritually tough in this world that wants to beat us down.  Give us great Courage to move forward in faith.  Give us deep conviction that, whatever may come in 2021, it can be well with our souls when we walk with the Holy Spirit and our lives are tightly entwined in the Word, Peace, Hope, Grace, and Courage of our Savior Jesus Christ. It is in his name we pray, Amen. 

"Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you." (Php. 3:12-15 NRSV)

"But this I call to mind,
    and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
    his mercies never come to an end;
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “therefore I will hope in him.”
 The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
    to the soul that seeks him.
 It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:21-26 NRSV)

"For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Cor. 3:21-22 ESV)

"Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

"My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!" (Horatio B. Spafford)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (Eph. 6:10-20 ESV)

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (Isa. 26:3)

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness." (Psalm 37:3 NKJV)

"Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 2:1)

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. " (2 Tim. 2:3-4)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NKJV)

*hat tip:  Pastor Tim Cross, Living Word Church, Muskegon, MI