A Prayer From Heaven

January 1st, 2026
by Mark McAdow

By Pastor Mark McAdow
Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year, we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us – but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So, help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand and trust You and to see Your will for our lives during this coming year.

In the midst of life’s uncertainties in the days ahead, assure us of the certainty of Your unchanging love.

In the midst of life’s inevitable disappointments and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we will need.

In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

We pray for our nation and its leaders during these difficult times, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives. Be with their families also and assure them of our love and concern for them.

Bring our divided nation together, and give us a greater vision of what You would have us to be. Your Word reminds us that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12).

As we look back over this past year we thank You for Your goodness to us – far beyond what we have deserved. May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget all Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance, and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives this year.

And so, our Father, we thank you for the promise and hope of this new year, and we look forward to it with expectancy and faith. This I ask in the name of the Lord and Savior, who by His death and resurrection has given us hope both for this world and the world to come.

Amen.

Why a prayer from heaven? It’s from my favorite evangelist Billy Graham who now resides in heaven. Though it was written 12 years ago, the insights and requests are remarkably valuable for our world today! Read it slowly and offer it as your prayer to our Heavenly Father on this first day of 2026.

Looking forward to worshiping our Lord Jesus with you this first Sunday of the New Year! It’s your opportunity to have “perfect” worship attendance for 2026 and maybe – just maybe – set a new trend. (Last year we had to cancel services due to ice!)

Have a happy and blessed new year!

Love you,
Pastor Mark