In the New Year, Resolve to Pray as Christ Has Shown Us

As we approach a new year, do your thoughts turn to what you’ll do differently in the coming days? Does that list of resolutions include how or what you pray? Wyatt English, digital communications coordinator for Awana, is our guest blogger. He reminds us that Christ gives us an example in Scripture of how we should pray to God; and that by following it, we can build His kingdom here on Earth.

In the New Year, Resolve to Pray as Christ Has Shown Us

For many people the new year represents an opportunity to reevaluate the patterns that characterize our lives. Maybe you can remember turning a fresh set of eyes towards habits worth making or breaking in the new year. There is nothing wrong with resolving to get healthier, become more financially responsible or take up a hobby. Indeed, Scripture acknowledges exercise is of some value (1 Timothy 4:8), exhorts us unto prudence (Proverbs 21:20), and encourages us to love and serve God through all we do (Colossians 3:23). Even still, the most poignant value of this crucial cultural inflection point can be squandered if we fail to follow Christ’s call to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33a).

As Christians, we are tasked with loving and serving God in all we do (Matthew 22:37), building His kingdom here as we anticipate His return. Christ himself is the first to show us how to live into this kingdom reality, telling His followers to pray in this manner:

… Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:9-13)

In this prayer, Christ models for His Church a posture of holy submission to the Father’s will for all things in society and in our personal lives. By praying like this we may, with humble hearts, recognize our place as pilgrims in a hostile land (1 Peter 2:11). While we wait for God’s kingdom, we look to Him to manifest His will for us and our communities even now. Likewise, we expectantly anticipate God’s provision for our needs and seek to demonstrate to the lost kingdom of this world Christ’s forgiveness. Lastly, praying like this reminds us of our reliance on God for spiritual deliverance.

Regardless of what spiritual practices we’ve previously maintained, Christ’s prayer is an example to live into as we strive to pray more (1 Thessalonians 5:17), live as citizens of God’s kingdom (Matthew 5:2-12) and act as ambassadors of the one who has forgiven us (2 Corinthians 5:20). In addition to all other aims at self-improvement this year, it is my prayer first that you might choose to join me in inaugurating the year by seeking first Christ’s kingdom through the tradition of prayer He Himself has passed on to us and second that we may each endeavor to intentionally act as citizens of the city of God rather than the dominion of man.

As you consider your prayer life in 2022, please commit to becoming an Awana prayer partner. By subscribing, you’ll receive each month’s prayer calendar in your in-box.