A new, New Year’s tradition for us. We usually display or save (at least through the holiday season) the Christmas cards we receive. On or about New Year’s as we’re putting our Christmas decorations away, we take a few moments to pray individually for the people we’ve received cards from. It may take a half hour or so, but it’s time we’ll spent and a very spiritually uplifting experience. Not everyone sends Christmas cards, so we add to the list our church staff, other friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers, etc. We try to think of specific prayer requests by name. Gets our New Year off to a good start and helps to focus our priorities!

“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) “The prayer of a righteous person has great power…” (James 5:16). And just Who is a “righteous” person? You and I… “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)