Prayer for the New Year

God of all people, we thank You for an awareness of new beginnings as we begin 2023. May we be aware of Your Spirit’s leading as we discern next steps in our personal lives as well as the lives of our congregations. May we always include You in our plans, discussions, and discernment. Open us up to new opportunities, new friendships, and new learnings in the midst of ongoing challenges, fears, doubts, and the ever-present reality of brokenness in our world and our personal lives. Grant us Your grace, affirm in us Your abiding love, and free us up to follow Your lead. We ask all of this in the redeeming name of our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN.