January 2

Morning

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, — Col 4:2 BSB

It’s amazing how much of the Bible is about prayer, whether through examples, commands, or promises. You can’t open the Bible without finding mentions of people praying, starting with “Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord,” and ending with a heartfelt “Amen” at the close of Scripture. Examples are everywhere: Jacob wrestling with God, Daniel praying three times a day, David passionately calling out to God. We see Elijah on the mountain, Paul and Silas praying in prison. And then there are countless commands and promises about prayer.

What does this show us? It highlights the importance and necessity of prayer. If God emphasizes prayer so much in His Word, He surely wants it to be a major part of our lives. We are in such deep need that we must continue praying until we reach heaven. If you feel like you don’t need anything, you probably don’t realize how poor you are. If you have no requests for God, may He show you how much you need His mercy! A person who doesn’t pray is someone without Christ. Prayer is the whisper of a new believer, the battle cry of a struggling Christian, and the final words of a dying saint. It is the breath, strength, comfort, and honor of a Christian. If you are a child of God, you will seek your Father’s presence and live in His love. Pray that this year you may be holy, humble, passionate, and patient. Pray for a deeper relationship with Christ and more time in the banquet hall of His love. Pray to be a blessing to others and live more for the glory of your Savior. Let this year’s motto be, “Continue in prayer.”

Evening

Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment. — Isa 41:1 BSB

Everything on earth needs renewal. Nothing stays strong on its own. The Psalmist said, “You renew the face of the earth.” Even trees, which don’t get tired or stressed, still need rain from heaven and nutrients from the soil. The mighty cedars of Lebanon, planted by God Himself, only survive because they are constantly refreshed. In the same way, human life can’t go on without renewal from God. Just as we need regular meals to keep our bodies strong, our souls need to be nourished by God’s Word, by hearing it preached, or by engaging in the ordinances that feed our faith. When we neglect these things, our spiritual strength fades. How weak some believers become when they neglect the Bible and private prayer! If our faith can survive without God’s help, it’s not real faith at all; it’s just an illusion. Real faith depends on God, like flowers depend on the dew.

Without constant renewal, we won’t be ready for the trials of life, the temptations of Satan, or even our own inner struggles. When life’s storms come, woe to the tree that hasn’t soaked up fresh sap or rooted itself deeply in the rock! When trouble strikes, woe to the sailor who hasn’t prepared his ship, strengthened his mast, or secured his anchor. If we let our spiritual strength fade, evil will grow stronger and fight for control, leading to pain and disgrace. Let’s come humbly to God’s throne of mercy, where we’ll find the strength promised to those who wait on the Lord: “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.”