January Prayer

Monday January 6

Based on Isaiah 61:1-3

Our Father who is in Heaven
Display your splendour
In us, your Church

As another year turns
Transform us from fallen acorns
Into oaks of righteousness

See what sits before you
A dream in ashes
A people in mourning
An atmosphere of despair

And do what only you do best
Sweep away the ash
And crown your Church with beauty

On bitter, cracked, dry grief
Pour oil greater than relief
Even gladness, even joy!

Replace our default despair
With tenacious praise
May every word of worship
Displace dissatisfaction

A year lies behind us
And many more before them
Stories of how it was
Glories of days gone by

And in more recent recollection
Hollow spaces
Tearful faces
Pale reflections of old colour
Dim views, dim hopes
Dim hearts

A year lies before us
And this we pray for it:
That the Spirit of the Sovereign LORD
Fall upon us!

Open up great wells within us
That we never knew were there
So inspire vivacious life
That we are filled to go and share

That this shall be the year
Of the favour of our God
Broken hearts bound and healed
Poor made rich in true good news
Let it be undeniable
That the LORD is bringing life
In 2025

Let the old leap with hope
That they are glimpsing God’s next move
Let the young stand up
And move when God says: ‘Now!’

Let this be the year
Of the vengeance of our God
Darkness loosened in its grip
The power of gangs and tyrants broken
The life-robbers terrified
By the coming of the light
The terrible and overwhelming sight
Of Christ’s Church re-becoming
For the Spirit of the LORD
Is upon us

Amen

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