As we enter into this new year, we’re excited to embark on a 7-day journey digging deeper into spiritual practices. Today is all about prayer. Let’s dive in.
Today’s Scripture
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Philippians 4:6-7
The Spiritual Practice of Prayer
Perhaps one of the best things about a new year is that it’s a blank page—an opportunity to start fresh, assess ways we want to improve and make determinations about what we want the year to hold. As believers, a new year also allows us to take intentional steps in our faith practices.
And while I can be tempted to turn the blank page of a new year into a checklist of perfect resolutions I have no hope of keeping, there’s something more powerful at work in your life and mine when we’re following Jesus.
Sanctification. This is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, but it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Daily, faithful (often messy) progress in following Jesus.
A thorough reading of scripture shows us repeatedly that faith is both a profession and a practice. It’s not just what we say we believe, but how we live it out and how we choose to engage with God, others, and the world around us.
The beautiful reality of the Christian life is that we don’t need to perform perfectly to receive God’s love and mercy. Whew! For a recovering people-pleasing perfectionist like me, this is truly amazing grace. I have to remind myself that faith isn’t a contest to see who can get it all right while God sits at a judge’s table, scoring us in the Sanctification Olympics. Instead, it’s a journey of trusting, growing, and becoming more like Jesus. God has even given us a Companion on this journey, and by His Spirit, we find we’re able to grow and flourish in Christlikeness. This is a beautiful mystery.
The arrival of 2025 gives us a chance to establish (or return to) some spiritual practices—not because there’s anything magical about January 1 or because we need to get it together, but because these practices shape us into the people God has called us to be.
Today, we’re focusing on the practice of prayer, a vital part of our sanctification.
Prayer is more than a religious duty—it’s the lifeline to God’s presence and the pathway to peace.
The apostle Paul encourages us in Philippians 4:6-7 to approach God with everything, “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving,” knowing that our God, who hears us, will give us His peace.
This peace isn’t the absence of struggle but the assurance that in every season—whether joyful or painful—God is near. We don’t pray to earn God’s love, but to receive it, to be transformed by it, and to align our hearts with His. Prayer helps us refocus, realign, and remember that we don’t walk this journey alone.
But here’s the thing: it’s not about getting it right every time. In fact, thinking there’s a “right” way to pray can hinder prayer itself. Prayer isn’t a formula. It’s an invitation to show up as you are and speak honestly with your Creator. You may not always feel confident in what to say or even how to pray, and that’s okay. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when words fail (Romans 8:26). We don’t have to perfect the practice—we just need to practice the practice!
As we begin this new year, here on day one, I want to encourage you to start where you are. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time or the “perfect” version of yourself. Begin with the simple act of turning your heart toward God.
God isn’t waiting for you to have everything figured out; He’s waiting for you to come to Him with open hands, ready to be shaped.
You can pray out loud, of course, but often, I find that journaling my prayers helps me process them, reduces distraction, and gives me a place to look back and see my journey with Jesus. I also whisper short-sentence prayers to God as I walk through the airport or pump gas. When something comes into my mind, I talk with him about it, especially if that thought is causing me anxiety or fear. When I realize a way that God has blessed me or reminded me of His love, I will say, “I see you, God. Thank you!”
Regularly expressing gratitude in prayer keeps me on the lookout for all the ways God is working for my good.
There’s no magic bullet here. Engage with prayer in the way that is most helpful for you, whether out loud, in writing, on a walk, using prayer prompts, while you clean, or as you drive. God is not bound by time, space, or human limitations. He will meet with you anywhere! Remember that God is pleased with your progress, not your perfection. So, take a deep breath, and let’s start this year with prayer—one step of faith at a time.
Today’s Personal Challenge:
Take 5 minutes today to pray. It doesn’t need to be eloquent. Simply bring your requests, your thanksgivings, and your heart before God. Ask Him to guide you through this year and give you the peace that surpasses all understanding. And then tomorrow, do it again. Cultivating a habit of communion with God will reap benefits no list of resolutions can ever bring. Don’t worry about having it all together. Simply practice—and as you do, trust that God is making progress in your life, shaping you into the person He has already declared you to be in Christ.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer. As we begin this year, help me focus on progress, not perfection. Lead me to engage with You regularly, and remind me You are more concerned with my heart than my performance. May I grow in grace, and may my prayers reflect my trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
