Abba and Almighty Father, we magnify You and marvel at Your grace and goodness in ushering us into a brand NEW YEAR! 2026! We are partakers of this brand NEW YEAR, simply because of You. You are the source of our life. For it was You who breathed into man’s “nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7; NASB). Also, You are the One who “gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25b; NASB). Moreover, none of us can live except You, God has ordained it (see Numbers 24:23b). Clearly then, we are totally dependent on You for life and breath and all things in this NEW YEAR.

We humbly acknowledge to You

In fact, we humbly acknowledge to You that; all that we have to live on earth, we’ve received from You (see 1 Corinthians 4:7). Such, O Lord, is our dependence on You. We can’t live without You. As such, we gladly and gratefully appreciate You for bestowing on us Your gifts of life and breath to share in the NEW YEAR. We are no better than those who once lived but have no part in the NEW YEAR! Like Jacob, we declare that we are “unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown [us]” (Genesis 32:10; NASB). We pray for Your comfort for those who enter the NEW YEAR without celebrating it with their loved ones. May Your comfort, O “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3b; NASB), abound upon them! May You, O Lord, fill the big holes in their hearts with Your hope and healing balm!

Some of Your believing people passed through the waters

Indeed, in the past year, some of Your believing people passed through the waters of affliction and sorrow. But You were with them. Others passed through the rivers of suffering and persecution. But they were not drowned in them. Still others walked through the fire of trouble and tribulation. But they were not scorched by the fire (see Isaiah 43:2). This is because, they are precious in Your sight and that You love them (see Isaiah 43:4) with Your undying and unending love.

Abba and Almighty Father, Your love…is unfailing

Indeed, Abba and Almighty Father, Your love for Your believing children is unfailing. In all of 2025, You bore us on eagles’ wings, and brought us to Yourself (see Exodus 19:4), all because of Your unfailing love for us. When we needed correction, You gently corrected us. Also, Lord, You comforted many of us who experienced great sorrow through the loss of loved ones. Not only that, You cared for us and guarded us as the pupil of Your eye (see Deuteronomy 32:10). As well, You guarded our going out and coming in (see Psalms 121:8). In all of 2025, our help came from You, “the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalms 121:2; NASB). You also answered us when we cried to You in our trouble (see Psalms 120:1). Indeed, when life was tough and trying for us, You, O LORD, strengthened and sustained us. In fact, You Yourself were “our strength” (Psalms 81:1; NASB).

You defended and delivered us from many troubles

Moreover, You defended and delivered us from many troubles. Your word says: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all” (Psalms 34:19; ESV). Indeed, had it not been Your commitment to deliver us from all our afflictions, we would not have made it into 2026! Furthermore, You counseled us with Your eye upon us (see Psalm 32:8). Also, You provided for all our needs throughout the year 2025. Because of Your gracious and generous provision for us, we did not go begging for bread (see Psalms 37:25). Truly, You are “YAHWEH-YIREH” (The LORD Will Provide; Genesis 22:14). You met not only our material needs, but also our spiritual needs. Yes, You provided for all our needs. But You also preserved us.

You also carried us

Indeed, in all of 2025, not only did You care for us and comforted us, but You also carried us. We saw firsthand, how You, the LORD our God carried us, just as a man carries his son (see Deuteronomy 1:31). Truly, You carried us in all the way which we have walked until we came to this place (see Deuteronomy 1:31).  Moreover, You knew all our wanderings in 2025. But You, the LORD our God, blessed us in all that we did, and had been with us (see Deuteronomy 2:7). Your presence with us was the best of all the blessings You bestowed on us. In Your presence with us, You were for us. For Your word says: “What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Also, because of Your presence with us, You went before us and fought on our behalf (see Deuteronomy 1:30) against all our enemies.

Abba and Almighty Father…we are so awed at Your faithfulness to

O Abba and Almighty Father, as we look back on 2025, we are so awed at Your faithfulness. Indeed, we are full of admiration for You, for the favor bestowed on us. Honestly, we did not deserve such faithfulness and favor. But because You love us and always want Your very best for us, You gladly and generously blessed us so kindly. That’s why our hearts overflow with gratitude to You. O how can we thank You for the many blessings You bestowed on us in 2025! Truly, we acknowledge to You that counting all our blessings and naming them one by one, will be an unending task. Like David, we simply commit ourselves to giving You thanks abundantly for all You did for us in 2025. David declared: “With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; and in the midst of many I will praise Him” (Psalms 109:30; NASB).

We are confident

Indeed, we are confident that just as You had been faithful to us in 2025, so also You’ll be in 2026! Just as You cared for us and carried us, as a man carries his son, so also You’ll do for us in 2026. Yes, just as You provided for us and preserved us, so also You’ll do for us in 2026! Also, just as You defended and delivered us from many troubles in 2025, so also You’ll do for us in 2026! As well, just as Your presence with us in 2025 was the greatest blessing for us in 2025, so it’ll be for us in 2026.

We…commit the NEW YEAR of 2026 to You

As such, we confidently and cheerfully commit the NEW YEAR of 2026 to You. We thank You LORD that You are in a distinguished class of “declaring the end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10a; NASB). So, as far as You are concerned, all that will happen in 2026 and beyond is already known to You. In fact, from eternity and in Your sovereign wisdom, You ordained the events that will be occurring in 2026. Moreover, in 2026, Your purpose will be established, and You will accomplish all Your good pleasure (see Isaiah 46:10b). In fact, in 2026, You will “do according to [Your] will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants on earth; and no one can ward off [Your] hand or say to [You], ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:35b; NASB). Indeed, You are in charge at the very beginning of 2026. And yes, You will be in complete control after its beginning to its completion.

Abba and Almighty Father, please accomplish what concerns…us

Therefore, Abba and Almighty Father, please accomplish what concerns our families, friends and us in 2026. Also, “O God of Israel” (1 Kings 8:26; NASB) bring about Your bounteous and beloved blessings for the nation of Israel – Your special and selected people. Lord of the Church, please carry out Your choice and cherished counsels for Your Church – Your saved and set apart people. As well, “Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11, 13; NASB), develop all Your divine desires and decisions for Your world. A world that’s made up of all the countries and coastlands You created under the heavens!

Israel, Your chosen and cherished nation, had a turbulent…2025

“O God of Israel” (1 Kings 8:26; NASB), Israel, Your chosen and cherished nation, had a turbulent and tumultuous 2025. Of course, You are well aware of that. For You once told Moses, that You have seen the affliction of Your people in Egypt and were aware of their sufferings (see Exodus 3:7). But that’s not all You said to Moses at the burning bush encounter with You. You also told him about Your action plan of delivering them from the hand of the Egyptians (see Exodus 3:8a). Furthermore, You expanded on Your action plan. You were going to bring Israel up from their place of bondage (Egypt) to a place of blessing (the Promised Land) (see Exodus 3:8b). The point here is that Your awareness of Your people’s sufferings always moves You to action! That is, a divine and decisive action.

Your awareness…will once again lead to a divine and decisive action

Therefore, Your awareness of Israel’s turbulent and tumultuous 2025, will once again lead to a divine and decisive action on their behalf. Just as You Yourself fought for Israel in their past battles, so also You must fight for Israel in their present battles. But Israel of today must learn afresh that “the battle is the LORD’s” (1 Samuel 17:47; NASB; cf. 2 Chronicles 20:15). She must believe anew that it is God who is fighting for them. Before they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land, Your prophet Moses set these words of Yours before them. “Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22; NASB).

Abba and Almighty Father, we earnestly pray to You

As such, Abba and Almighty Father, we earnestly pray to You! Please, bring Israel to a place of complete surrender and obedience to You in such a time as this. For when they surrender themselves fully to You and commit to obeying You, You Yourself will fight for them. Moreover, You will be an enemy to their enemies, an adversary to their adversaries (see Exodus 23:22). More importantly, Your victory will always be guaranteed for them when You fight for them.

We pray

Also, we pray for a fresh desire among the people of Israel for seeking the LORD their God. We acknowledge on behalf of Israel that they have gone astray from You. They have turned their back to You, and not their face (see Jeremiah 2:27). Israel must therefore return to You and seek You, the LORD their God with confident expectation that they will find You. Through Your prophet Moses, You gave them this conditional promise. “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29; NASB). Therefore, we beseech You, O LORD, on behalf of Israel!  Please, do Your gracious work of giving the people of Israel a fresh desire for seeking You. Yes, to seek You with all their heart and with all their soul in such a time as this!

O God of Israel, Israel…has become a reproach

O God of Israel, Israel, Your “people, a treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 26:18; NASB) has become a reproach among the nations today. Hatred for Jews has been increasingly expressed in horrific ways of late. In 2025, hate acts against Jewish communities escalated significantly worldwide. Some of these hate acts against the Jews were marked by mass casualty events. The Bondi Beach Mass shooting on December 14, 2025 in Sydney, Australia comes to mind. 15 innocent Jewish people who were celebrating Hanukkah, were killed and many others were injured. These hate acts against Jews today are simply an expression of their enemies’ desire for them to be cursed.

Abba and Almighty Father, ever since You led Israel

Indeed, Abba and Almighty Father, ever since You led Israel out of Egyptian bondage to be a nation, their enemies’ chief desire was their being cursed.  So it was that Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor to come to him (see Numbers 22:4-5). His purpose for his invitation to Balaam is stated in these troubling words. “Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed” (Numbers 22:6; ESV). In Your merciful and miraculous intervention, You turned the curse into a blessing for Israel (see Numbers 23). Similarly, we pray to You today on behalf of Israel. Please, turn the curse that is meant against Israel into a blessing for them. Bless those who bless them, and curse those who curse them according to Your promise to Abram (see Genesis 12:3a).

And now, O LORD, we lift up Your Church to You

And now, O LORD, we lift up Your Church to You in prayer at the beginning of the NEW YEAR. We thank You for Your promise to build Your Church. “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower” (Matthew 16:18b; NASB). Had Jesus not made this promise, and had He not been actively and ardently fulfilling it; the Church would’ve failed. Indeed, the building of the Church would’ve faltered in our hands. As such, we rejoice and revel in Your faithfulness to Your word and work of building Your Church! To You, our Lord Jesus, Head of the Church; “be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.  Amen” (2 Peter 3:18b).

The building of the Church cannot fail

Since the building of Your Church cannot fail or falter in our Lord Jesus’ hands, we’re assured of her progress. The world’s testimony of the progress and power of the first century Church was radical. With troubling hearts they made this testimony. “These men who have upset the world have come here also” (Acts 17:6b; NASB). It’s undeniable. Your Church cannot make progress in our world today, unless she is passionately pursuing You, the person of God Himself. Yes, she cannot make an eternal difference in our generation unless, she is purposefully practicing dependence on You Yourself. Indeed, she can’t upset the world today, unless she is prayerfully partnering with the Spirit in the spread of the gospel.

Abba and Almighty Father, we pray

Therefore, Abba and Almighty Father, we pray for a stirring up of passionate pursuit of You Yourself in Your Church. Please give Your Church today, a fresh hunger for You Yourself. For without a fresh hunger for You Yourself, Your Church cannot make progress in our day. Indeed, fresh hunger for You Yourself fueled the passionate pursuit of You by the early believers. Because Peter and the apostles were passionately pursuing You Yourself, when they were ordered not to teach in Jesus’ name, they didn’t cower. Rather, with the boldness generated in them by Your Spirit, they responded thus. “But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men‘” (Acts 5:29; NASB). Peter and his fellow apostles could not have boldly responded, had they not been passionately pursuing You Yourself.

So let us know

Indeed, Lord, their passionate pursuit of You Yourself could be summed up in these notable words. “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain of the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain watering the earth” (Hosea 6:3; NASB). So must our passionate pursuit of the Person of God Himself be in such a time as this.

Lord, we earnestly pray to You

Therefore, Lord, we earnestly pray to You on behalf of Your Church today. Stir up a fresh passionate pursuit of You Yourself among Your believing children today. That, You Yourself will be our all in all. That, we might no longer live for ourselves, but for Jesus who died and rose again on our behalf (see 2 Corinthians 5:15). Yes, that we also might count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord (see Philippians 3:8).

We pray for Your Church

Also, Lord, we pray for Your Church! For her to make an indelible impact in our world today, she must purposefully practice total dependence on You Yourself. Our Lord Jesus made our total dependence on Him clear to His first disciples and us. He declared: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5b; NASB). Therefore, Loving God, give Your Church a fresh desire for purposefully practicing complete reliance on You Yourself. We must choose to fully and faithfully rely on You in every area of our lives. Please, Lord, deliver Your Church from depending on her own strength and skills. Please, let Your Church not be like Judah in Isaiah’s days, who “depended on the weapons of the house of the forest” (Isaiah 22:8; NASB). But did not depend on You (see Isaiah 22:11).

Abba and Almighty Father, You gave King Asa

Abba and Almighty Father, You gave King Asa a resounding victory over his enemies when he completely relied on You. His enemies who came against him were an immense army with very many chariots and horsemen. Yet because he relied on You, his LORD and God, You delivered them into his hand (see 2 Chronicles 16:8). Similarly, we believe that if Your Church today, is purposefully practicing total reliance on You, she will be victorious. Indeed, no opposer, no oppressor, no opponent, no obstacle, no opposition, will be able to stand in her way. But when Your Church turns to rely on her own strength and skills, defeat and shame will be her lot. In fact, You are totally displeased with us when we rely on anything else but You (see 2 Chronicles 16:7). Please, remind Your Church afresh that it is “not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:7; NASB).

Lord, please grant Your Church a new season

Also, Lord, please grant Your Church a new season of prayerfully partnering with Your Spirit in spreading the gospel. Our Lord Jesus Himself set a wonderful example for us. He prayerfully partnered with Your Spirit in spreading the gospel. While on earth, our Lord “Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16; NASB).  As a result, “the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing” (Luke 5:17b; NASB). No doubt, from our Lord’s example, we discover that there’s a correlation between prayer and the power of the Lord. Therefore, we pray for Your Church today, to be diligent and disciplined in prayerfully partnering with Your Spirit to spread Your Word. For then, the power of the Lord will be present to preach the gospel and perform healing. Indeed, our Lord’s apostles, also followed in His footsteps in prayerfully partnering with Your Spirit in sharing the gospel (see Acts 4:23-31).

Lord, teach us to pray

Therefore, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1b; NASB). May our testimony in this NEW YEAR be like that of the apostles after their prayerful partnering with the Spirit! “And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and abundant grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33; NASB).

Abba and Almighty Father, we pray for Your world

And now, Abba and Almighty Father, we pray for Your world. We thank You for Your love for the world, that is, all the people You created to live on the inhabited earth. Your word clearly and convincingly sets forth Your love for the world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16; NASB). Indeed, nothing will delight Your heart at the beginning of this NEW YEAR than to see unbelievers, believing in Jesus. Why? This is because You are “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9b; NASB). Indeed, You are the One “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4; NASB). Moreover, You said: “I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord GOD. Therefore, repent and live” (Ezekiel 18:32; NASB).

We earnestly pray

Therefore, we earnestly pray for Your gracious work in the hearts of the people of the world. That is, all those who have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. O Lord, please bring them to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, “the Savior of the world” (John 4:42b; NASB). Indeed, we’re confident that “as many as had been appointed to eternal life” (Acts 13:48b; NASB) will repent and believe and be saved. For You are the God who grants unbelievers “the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18b; NASB).

Lord of all the earth, we pray

Also, “Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11, 13; NASB) we pray “for kings and all who are in authority” (1 Timothy 2:2a; NASB) in Your world today. “So that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (2 Timothy 2:2b-3; NASB). Indeed, praying for kings and all who are in authority is good and acceptable in Your sight. But also, it’s because You are able to turn their hearts to wherever You wish to accomplish Your divine purposes through them. Your word declares: “The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1; NASB). All throughout human history, You’ve turned the hearts of kings to wherever You wished in order to accomplish Your purposes (see Ezra 7:27-28; Nehemiah 2:2:1-8; Isaiah 45:1-7; cf. Ezra 1:1-4; 2 Chronicles 36:22-23).

Abba and Almighty Father, we pray to You

 Similarly, Abba and Almighty Father, we pray to You for Your world at the beginning of the NEW YEAR. Please turn the hearts of all who are in authority over the people of Your world to wherever You desire. So as to fulfill Your divine plans and purposes for Your world today. For You are the Supreme Ruler of the nations. In fact, Your Son, our Savior; is described as “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5b). Truly, You rule over all.

We pray for Your continuous care for the lands of the nations

Also, we pray for Your continuous care for the lands of the nations. For without Your continuous care of them, life on earth will be hard and harsh. Father, we are so grateful for Your constant care for the land of Israel, from the beginning even to the end of the year (see Deuteronomy 11:12). Would You please graciously and generously extend the same care to all the lands of the nations! We thank You, that You’re not only the Creator of the universe, but You’re also it’s Caretaker and Controller.

Abba and Almighty Father, we’re glad and grateful to You

Abba and Almighty Father, we’re glad and grateful to You for ushering us into the NEW YEAR of 2026. Indeed, we’re relieved to know that Your hand will be orchestrating all the events which will occur in it. Indeed, nothing will happen in it without first passing through Your loving hands. Moreover, You know it’s end from it’s very beginning. Above all, Your purpose will be established and You will accomplish all Your good pleasure (see Isaiah 46:10b) in it. Furthermore, what You have truly spoken; truly You will bring it to pass (see Isaiah 46:11b). And what You have planned to do in it, surely You will do it (see Isaiah 46:11c).

We rest assured

Therefore, we rest assured that You will do what’s good concerning us in the NEW YEAR of 2026. For “we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28; NASB).

Abba and Almighty Father, we commit our prayers to You

And now, Abba and Almighty Father, we commit our prayers to You to accomplish what concerns us! Israel – Your special and selected people! Your Church – Your saved and set apart people! And Your world – made up of all unbelievers in the countries and coastlands You created under the heavens! We are grateful to “You who hear prayer, to You all men come” (Psalms 65:2; NASB). We thank You ahead of time for doing “far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20b; NASB). And, it is in the precious and powerful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen!