31st. December. 2021. Daily Devotion.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. — Psalm 90:1

In some congregation it is a tradition to sing “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” during our New Year’s Day worship service. Some other churches like to sing this song as they worship on the last day of the closing year.

This hymn paraphrases Psalm 90. Even though Psalm 90 can be considered a song of lament, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” summarizes the content of this psalm in an uplifting way.

As we end this year, we reflect on the fact that God has been “our help in ages past” as well as “our hope for years to come.” When we look back on the year we have just gone through, not one of us can say we knew it would turn out the way it did. We cannot see into the future.

Yet God has been our help, and he has been our strength. God has “been our dwelling place through all generations.” So when­ever we face uncertainty, we can trust that, with God, we can find courage and strength

God has made all things, and “a thousand ages in [his] sight are like an evening gone.” Yet the Lord our God will always continue to be faithful.

In the final stanza of the song, we profess our trust in God. We sing, “Still be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home!” We have confidence to face the future because our hope for eternal life is found in God our Saviour. B Kuyper

Dear God, thank you for being with us through this past year. We trust that we can always make our dwelling with you. Through Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer for Hope After a Difficult Year

Dear God, Thank you for helping us to make it through this difficult year. Thank you that you’ve carried us through the uncertainty of deep waters, through the flames of trials, and through the pain of hard losses. We are constantly aware of how much we need you, your grace, your strength, your power working through even the toughest days.

Fill us with your joy and the peace of your Spirit. Direct our hearts and minds towards you. Thank you for your reminder that both in seasons of celebration and in seasons of brokenness, you’re still with us. For you never leave us. Thank you for your daily powerful Presence in our lives, that we can be assured your heart is towards us, your eyes are over us, and your ears are open to our prayers. Thank you that you surround us with favor as with a shield, and we are safe in your care.

We choose to press in close to you today and keep you first in our hearts and lives. Without You, we would surely fail, but with you, there is great hope. Thank you for your healing power, thank you for bringing us into this new season up ahead. We look forward to all that You still have in store. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayer for Strength and Power in the Year Ahead

Lord, we ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you will  make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honoured by our lives, and others would be drawn to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.