Loving and Living Father, as we begin the New Year of 2023, we honor and bless Your holy name. We declare that: “You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God” (Psalm 86:10; NASB). Truly, “Your way, O God is holy; what god is great like our God?” (Psalm 77:13). You alone are God. There is none like You. There is none besides You. You are “God in heaven above and on earth below; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39). You are in a distinguished class all by Yourself.

Loving Father, You have been with us

Indeed, Loving Father, You have been with us all throughout 2022. And now, You have kindly brought us into a brand New Year – 2023! Of a truth, You cared for us all throughout 2022. You faithfully watched over us in it. Not only that, Living Father, You helped us in it. Yes, You also defended us in it. You were compassionate to us in it.

Heavenly Father, You have been good to us

But that’s not all! Heavenly Father, You have been good to us in 2022. You loved us in it by seeking Your very best for us. Oh, how can we forget Your great mercies which You showed us in it. Truly, Father, You were patient with us in 2022. Also, You were so gracious to us in it – giving Your manifold blessings which You didn’t deserve at all. You also sustained and strengthened us when the going got tough for us in 2022. In addition, Your forgiveness abounded for us in it.

Father, You demonstrated Your great lovingkingness to us

Moreover, Father, You demonstrated Your great lovingkindness to us in 2022. Lord, You did much good to us, because “You are good and do good” (Psalm 119:68). Yes, You also blessed us in many ways in 2022 because it’s Your heart’s desire to bless Your people (see Numbers 6:23-27). Furthermore, in all our spiritual battles, You took it upon Yourself to fight for us. For Your word declares: “You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22; ESV).  Indeed, in Your great faithfulness, You watched over us and carried us, “just as a man carries his son” (Deuteronomy 1:31b) through a difficult and distressful year.

2022 was difficult and distressful

Though 2022 was difficult and distressful, Loving Father, yet You did not forsake us or forget us. Not only did You defend us in all our battles, but You also defeated our enemies and delivered us from their hands. Oh, indeed, to You be all the glory! To You, O Lord, we give thanks and praise for all the good You did for us in 2022. Blessed be Your holy name! “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth” (Psalm 115:1).

Precious Father,…You have brought us into a brand New Year

Now, Precious Father, in Your grace and goodness, You have brought us into a brand New Year – 2023! We humbly and honestly acknowledge that it’s not because of our righteousness that we are privileged to see the very first day of the very first month of the New Year of 2023. Rather, it’s all because of Your unconditional and unlimited love for us. And, yes, it will be because of Your unfailing and unwavering love for us that You will sustain us throughout this New Year of 2023.

We did not know that the Russian – Ukraine War would be fought

In fact, Father, when 2022 began with great pomp and pageantry, we did not know that the Russian – Ukraine War would be fought. Neither did we know that it would result in the loss of thousands of lives – both of soldiers and civilians. Also, we did not know that the Russian – Ukraine War would bring the world’s economy to a global recession. Moreover, we didn’t know that the global recession would bring untold hardships to many across the globe. Furthermore, we did know that 2022 would be the year when Her Majesty the Queen of England would leave us. But Loving Father, You knew of all these events even before the year 2022 began.

Gracious Father, You have complete knowledge

In fact, Gracious Father, You have complete knowledge of all the events, crisis, conflicts and circumstances that will befall us, not only in January 2023, but also in all of the New Year of 2023. Indeed, You already know the end from the very beginning of 2023. Yes, You are fully aware of the way the New Year of 2023 will begin and how it will all end. Specifically, You have foreknowledge, not only of all the conflicts; but also, of all the celebrations we will experience in the New Year of 2023!

Will a great awakening burst forth in the nations?

Will a great spiritual awakening, renewal and revival, at last, burst forth in the nations in the New Year of 2023?  Will persecution of the Church be more intense in the New Year of 2023? Also, will another war between two major powers be fought in the New Year of 2023? What about natural disasters, political upheavals and economic crises– will they dominate the airwaves in the New Year of 2023? Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that we don’t know. In fact, we don’t even know what a day will bring, let alone what a whole year will bring! But, Heavenly Father, You already know far in advance if these events and more will be happening in 2023.

Father, You alone, fully know what this New Year of 2023 will be

Indeed, Father, You alone, fully know what this New Year of 2023 will be like and what will dominate the news in the nations. This is because; You are the all-knowing God. In fact, no one, but You alone, know it all! Moreover, You are the Lord of the nations. You are the Controller of all the affairs of the universe. And yes, You are “the ruler of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5b). Truly, You Lord, are the One who is in charge and in command and in control of all creation.

We dedicate the New Year of 2023 to You

It is therefore, with surrendered and submissive hearts that we dedicate the New Year of 2023 to You. Lord, we dedicate it to You in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Please, faithful and forgiving Father, gladly and graciously accomplish all that concerns our families, our friends and fellow-believers, and us. We beseech You, God of Israel, please perform all that concerns the nation of Israel – Your chosen and cherished people. Also, we call upon You, Lord of the Church, to carry out Your purposes for Your Church – Your called-out and consecrated people. In addition, we cry out to You, “Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11, 13; Psalm 97:5; Zechariah 6:5); please accomplish what concerns Your world – made up of all the nations and lands You created under the heavens!

Loving Father, You know the way in which we should walk

O Lord of all and our loving Father, You know the way in which we should walk and the things which we should do in the New Year of 2023. Therefore, in humility and hope, we ask You to go before us (see Isaiah 45:2). Guide us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake (see Psalm 23:3b)! Grow us in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (see 2 Peter 3:18)! Gladden our soul, for to You O Lord, do we lift up our soul (Psalm 86:4)!

Precious Father, Revive Your Church

In this New Year of 2023, our desire is for You, our precious Father to revive Your Church, for revival comes from You (see Psalm 85:6)! Renew our first love for You (see Revelation 2:4)! Restore us to Yourself (see Psalm 80:3)! Reveal more of Yourself to us, for You always take the initiative to reveal Yourself to Your people (see Genesis 15:1)! Also, reveal to us Your battle plan as You did for Joshua, David, and others (Joshua 6:2-5; 8:1-2; 2 Samuel 5:23-24). Remember us and act graciously on our behalf, as You did for Your people of old (see Genesis 8:1; Jeremiah 15:15)! Refresh our hearts in Christ (see Philemon 1:20)! Rule and reign over our hearts! Release us from all that will hinder us from running the race You have set before us (see Hebrews 12:1)!

Loving God, sustain…and shepherd us

Also, Loving God, sustain, strengthen, and shepherd us in the New Year of 2023. By Your indwelling Spirit, enable us to love You with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our might (see Deuteronomy 6:5). Live for You, not for ourselves (see 2 Corinthians 5:15)! Long for You and for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise (see Psalm 119:123)! “Look to You” (Psalm 104:27; 145:15)! Listen to You (see Psalm 81:13) and “listen to the words of the LORD” (1 Samuel 15:1b)! Learn at the feet of Jesus (see Luke 10:39)! Lead unbelievers to saving faith in Jesus Christ!

We acknowledge that, in every situation, You know what’s best for us

Now, O Lord our God, we accept as coming from Your good and gracious hand, all that You will permit to occur in our individual and corporate lives in the New Year of 2023. We acknowledge that, in every situation, You know what’s best for us, and that You have a purpose for everything You allow in our lives. Also, we admit that even though we do not know the future, we take great comfort in the fact that, You know and hold the future. As such, we affirm that You always want Your very best for us, not only in this life, but also in the life soon to come.

Loving Father, we appreciate You

O Loving Father, we appreciate You for Your unceasing, undying, unending, unfailing and unlimited love for us. We adore You, for who You are – “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty…” (Exodus 34:6-7; ESV). We pray all these things in the great and glorious name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!