Day 1: Dedicating Our Year to the Lord

The beginning of a new year is a good time to slow down, rest, and set our focus on the Lord. Realigning our priorities with God’s heart and making time to listen to his voice are important activities that often take a back burner in our busy lives. That’s why, as a family, it’s good to set aside a time to review and reflect, and to dedicate the year to the Lord.

For a visual aid, as you and your family dedicate the coming year to the Lord, hold open a blank calendar of the new year. Ask God to fill each month of the year with his presence, provision, protection, and direction. Each person can declare out loud that he or she is giving this year to God, to follow and serve him.

Close with someone praying a prayer of blessing and dedication over the family, and over all the activities and happenings that may occur. If there are specific events already on the calendar for the new year, such as starting a new job or school, a graduation or wedding, you may want to pray concerning those events, in advance.

Today’s Prayer:

Lord, we invite and welcome your powerful presence into our lives this year. Thank you for making all things new! Come fill our home with your life-giving Spirit—your peace, your joy, your righteousness. We pray that our activities, our events, will honor you. We declare that this year the atmosphere of our home will be alive with God’s voice, presence, and promises. As a family we pledge to you that daily we will extend compassion, forgiveness, and patience to one another. We declare that in our home everyone will feel valued, connected, and supported because you live in us.