Renew- Praying for the New Year

Introduction:

As we continue with our worship of the Lord this morning, let’s take a few moments to pray together so that we may encounter the living God as we worship Him this morning.

Let’s pray together!

The Beginning of the year is always a little interesting to me. I am the type of person who likes to make plans and goals. I like making New Year's resolutions.... even though I may not be able to keep them all of the time. However, I did figure out that if I think of quarterly goals, I am a lot better at keeping them. This though is not really the point.

If all we did was make a few goals… that would not amount to much in our lives. Sure, we might be able to have some behavior modifications or whatnot, but we are not looking just to do life a little better. That is too short of a goal.

What I want us to think about are not resolutions per se, but I want us to focus on being renewed. This is why I want to start this year off with a sermon series titled- Renew.

I think that all of us in this room have had a pretty rough 2022. This past year has been unrelenting for me.... and I know that it has been really hard for many of you. I think, if we are honest with ourselves and with one another, we need to be renewed. We need to take some time at the beginning of this year and just seek the face of God. We need to seek to be renewed. We need change. We need direction. We need help. We need to learn how to wait upon the Lord and just to seek Him. We need Renewed.

Body:

And over the next several weeks we are going to talk about different ways that we are to seek renewal in our lives.... but for today, I want us to do something a little bit different. I know that you have had prayer meetings when I have not been able to be with you, but today we are going to start off the year seeking the face of God through prayer.

We are going to spend this morning praying for one another.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. Is anyone cheerful? He should sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. 17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit. 19 My brothers and sisters, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let that person know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:13-20)

Pray For One Another.

(We are going to spend time this morning praying over each member of those who are gathered, and we will intercede for those who are not there).

Conclusion:

Here is my challenge to you as we start this year.... we are going to take it one week at a time and will be adding onto this so don’t worry too much....but take 15mins a day this week to pray for a church member, let them know that you are praying for them, and ask God how you might be renewed this January.

Christ was born, died, and rose again so that we can have life. We need to seek Him so that we can live it!

Let’s be renewed this season.

Let’s close out in prayer.