As we gather together in prayer as a church to close the year, we should come to God in adoration: acknowledging his supreme perfection and dominion, as well as our dependence on Him; in confession: admitting our sins against God with broken and repentant hearts; in thanksgiving: expressing our gratitude to God for what he has done; and in supplication: beseeching God to grant us assistance in our laborious struggles and imperfections.
Table of Contents
Adoration
Eternal God, who can make all things new,
This year that you graciously enabled us to begin 12 months ago, is coming to an end. Shortly before midnight today, it will vanish into the shadows, and we shall write its name no more in the current dates.
As we end this year and wait with joy to welcome the beginning of another year, we are reminded of you who is always the same, you who has no beginning and no end and Whose years fail not. We are reminded of you who is eternal, the alpha and omega—the beginning and the end, the One who was, and is, and is to come. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever; and you alone are our hope and our future.
Today, as we bid farewell to the end of another chapter of our lives, we would like to acknowledge that you have been our refuge and strength, our help in times of troubling ups and downs and trials of life. You have answered our prayers, healed our diseases, delivered us from evil, and made us more than conquerors. You have blessed us in ways that we cannot fully comprehend, and you have been faithful and good to us, even when we did not deserve it. You have graciously made us your children, your friends, your co-workers, and your witnesses.
We stand in awe of your unwavering love and faithfulness that has guided us through every step of this journey.
We adore you as the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. You are the Creator and Sustainer of all things, the Redeemer of all people, and the Ruler of all nations.
We acknowledge your sovereignty over the days gone by and the days yet to come and submit to your will.
We dedicate ourselves to You afresh and surrender our plans, our dreams, our goals, and our desires to You. We seek Your kingdom, Your righteousness, Your purpose, and Your glory above all else. We worship You with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. We love you with an everlasting love, and we look forward to spending eternity with you. We give You all the glory, all the honor, and all the praise, for You alone are worthy.
Confession
Gracious God, as we come to the end of this year, we would also like to confess that we have not lived up to your calling and your expectations. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not been faithful stewards of your creation, and we have not used our gifts and talents for your glory. We have not sought your will in all things, and we have not followed your guidance in our daily lives.
We confess our prideful moments when ego has overshadowed humility, causing division instead of unity. Help us recognize the importance of lifting others up rather than tearing them down.
Lord, please forgive us for moments when anger got the best of us, clouding our judgment and causing harm both in word and deed. Teach us how to respond with patience and compassion, even in challenging situations.
As we close this chapter of the year behind us, help us release any bitterness or resentment that may still linger within our hearts. Enable forgiveness to flow freely from within so that healing can take place individually and collectively.
We humbly ask for your forgiveness for times when selfishness prevailed over selflessness—moments where we prioritized personal gain at the expense of others’ well-being. Grant us a heart that seeks to serve rather than be served, and the wisdom to learn from past mistakes while embracing the lessons they have taught us.
In your infinite wisdom and boundless mercy, transform our hearts so that they may reflect that we have been with Jesus and have learned from him. And may our confession of sin serve as a reminder that this confession of sin is not just an act but an ongoing commitment towards growth and transformation
Thanksgiving
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your goodness, grace, and mercy that sustained us throughout this year.
Thank you for the gift of life. There are many who wished to be alive today, but they are no more. But here we are today, by your grace, and for this, we are very grateful for this gift of life.
We thank You for the countless blessings showered upon us: for health that continues to sustain us, for relationships that enrich our lives, and for the love that binds us together as one community.
Thank you for the gift of good health. There are those to whom you have given the gift of life but who have ended this year in hospitals and with various afflictions! And for those of us who are not bedridden with sickness in hospitals or in our homes, may you help us to always be thankful for this provision of good health and not take it for granted.
Thank you for the gift of family members, friends, and colleagues who have walked beside us during these challenging times and have provided us this year with unwavering support when needed most. They were beacons of hope when darkness threatened to engulf our spirits. May your grace keep shining upon them.
We give thanks for the opportunities presented to us throughout this year. Your divine hand guided our steps towards success in various endeavors: personal growth, professional achievements, and spiritual growth. We acknowledge these accomplishments with hearts filled with humility and gratitude and thank you for the provision of resources—both material and spiritual—that have enabled us to pursue our dreams.
Lord, we thank You in advance for what You are going to do in and through us in the new year. We are convinced that You are able to lead us into a future filled with purpose and blessings beyond measure, and that You are able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to Your power that works in us.
Supplication
As we look back on the past twelve months, Lord, help us to see how far we have come. Inspire us to celebrate our achievements, big and small—every milestone reached, every obstacle overcome. Empower us to carry these accomplishments forward into the coming year as a source of inspiration and motivation.
But, Lord, as much as we rejoice in our successes, we acknowledge that there were moments of struggle and pain. We pray for your healing touch on those who are still carrying heavy burdens from this past year. Grant them comfort in knowing that they do not walk alone and that your love is a constant presence in their lives.
Lord, in the upcoming year, our desire is to surrender ourselves to you completely, and we pray that you will give us the grace that will strengthen our faith and help us to follow you wholeheartedly. Enable us to lay down our worries, fears, and doubts at your feet and choose to trust in your faithfulness. Please help us to let go of our own desires and plans and instead seek your will for our lives.
Lord, fill us with inspiration to dream big dreams and pursue them relentlessly. Empower us with the courage to step outside of our comfort zones and take risks that will propel us towards success. Strengthen our faith in your divine plan for each one of us so that we may find purpose and fulfillment in every endeavor.
Lord, we ask for Your favor and grace to be upon us in the coming year. We pray that you will strengthen our resolve to make a positive impact in our communities. Open doors of opportunity to serve others selflessly and be agents of love, compassion, justice, and peace wherever we go. Enlarge our territory, increase our influence, and multiply our impact. We pray that You will use us to advance Your kingdom, spread Your gospel, and manifest Your power. Help us to be salt to the earth and beacons of light in a world that sometimes feels overwhelmed by darkness.
Infuse our spirits with renewed hope and determination. Fill our minds with creative ideas and innovative solutions so that, together, we may navigate whatever challenges lie ahead. And may our actions inspire others to strive for greatness and make a positive impact on those around them.
In closing this year’s chapter, Lord, we pray for an abundance of blessings upon each member of our congregation—physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. May prosperity flow into every aspect of their lives as they remain steadfast in their devotion to you.
May Your light shine brightly upon every endeavor we undertake, be it in our personal lives, our careers, or our relationships. May the year ahead be filled with breakthroughs and opportunities that surpass all expectations. And above all, may we continue to walk faithfully in Your path, guided by Your Word and by your love and grace.
May this closing prayer mark not an end but a beginning—a fresh chapter in which each one of us can grow closer to you and closer to one another.
We offer this prayer with utmost conviction and belief in your unwavering love for each one of us. Thank you for hearing our prayer today as we close this year with hope in our hearts.
In Christ’ name,
Amen
