Prayer is Powerful: Things to Pray for in the New Year 2024!

I believe that prayer is powerful! As we quickly approach 2024, I thought I would chat for a few minutes about prayer and the power of prayer and put together a list of things to pray for in 2023!

Prayer can accomplish extraordinary, seemingly impossible things while providing peace, comfort, and hope in times of difficulty or uncertainty.

Are you ready?! Let’s do this!

First Thing first: What is prayer?

The dictionary defines prayer this way:

A prayer or prayer is an act of communication by humans with the sacred or holy—God, the gods, the transcendent realm, or supernatural powers.

Found in all religions at all times, prayer may be a corporate or personal act utilizing various forms and techniques.

What Prayer is to Me:

I think prayer is a direct connection to an all-powerful and ever-present God. A God who knows me better than I know myself.

I believe I can tell Him anything and everything (because He already knows) and ask for His guidance, protection, and blessings through prayer.

I believe I can pray BOLD prayers and submit my petitions (ASK for my needs, desires, request, etc.) Without fear or judgment.

In addition, prayer and praying bring me peace and hope during difficult times, but most of all, prayer brings me closer to God the Father. And I want to be close to Him.

AND! God says that the effective prayer of a man can accomplish mighty things. (James 5:16).

That said, if my prayers can have anything to do with mighty and great things happening, I’m in!

Why should we pray?

God tells us to pray.

It is said that “Prayer” is referenced over 600 times in the Bible.

Because Jesus Prayed.

And if you want to do what Jesus did (DWJD), then PRAY!

Prayer is how we communicate with God.

And we all know that communication is key to every solid relationship!

Prayer is Powerful!

Pray because prayer is powerful and accomplishes great things! For thousands of years, there have been countless testimonies of prayer-producing miracles.

Prayer is good for you!

In recent years, science has begun to delve into the power of prayer.

Studies have shown that people who pray are more likely to experience relief from anxiety, stress, and depression.

Prayer can also help us cope with difficult situations by providing a greater sense of peace and well-being. (source)

When should we pray?

Anytime and all the time.

In the words of Stephen Curtis Chapman:

Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
For the Father above, He is listening with love
And He wants to answer us, so let us pray.

The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) I think that means that prayer should never stop. That prayer is an open line of communication between God and us.

Me? I do my best praying in the shower, in the car, and when I’m lying awake at night staring at the ceiling fan, but you can pray anywhere and at any time!

Want to learn more about how to pray? Then, let’s go straight to the top.

How Jesus Prayed

Because God is an awesome God and knows us so well, He knew we would struggle with the idea of prayer and how to do it, so, He left us an instruction manual.

In the Bible, the best example of prayer is the Lord’s Prayer, which is Jesus’s explanation of how to pray.

The disciples asked Jesus how we should pray, and He showed them not by giving them a lecture on how to pray but by doing.

He taught them how to pray by praying the Lord’s prayer.

The Lord’s prayer

‘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 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer:

The Lord’s prayer is like a playbook on how to pray.

It’s been said that seven petitions of the Lord’s prayer help break down the Lord’s prayer into bite-size, easier-to-understand pieces.

The seven petitions of the lord’s prayer

Our Father in heaven– This is our address to God, acknowledging Him as the Heavenly Father who is merciful and loving towards us.

Hallowed be thy name-We acknowledge that God’s name is holy and worthy of all honor, praise, and glory. (Praise God)

Thy kingdom come-We ask God to bring His kingdom on earth and in our lives.

Thy will be done- Acknowledge that God’s plans (the will of God) are perfect and better than ours, so we ask Him to show us His will for our lives.

Give us this day our daily bread -This is a request that God provides us with all of our daily needs. (physical, emotional, and spiritual needs each day.)

Forgive us our debts– Ask God to forgive our sins in exchange for His grace and mercy—freely given when we accept Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Lead us not into temptation-Request that God protect us from circumstances and situations that may cause us to stumble and fall.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen – We thank God for his sovereignty over our lives, acknowledging the power of God and His everlasting authority.

The Basics of Prayer

Now that we’ve gone over the ultimate playbook for prayer, here are a few tools or methods for praying.

The first is called the Soap prayer method, and the second is the ACTS and the third (and my favorite) Praying God’s Word.

The Soap Method of Praying

The SOAP method of praying is an effective and simple way to make your prayer time more meaningful.

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer and involves four simple steps:

S.O.A.P.

S – Scripture-Read a short Bible passage out loud and/or write it out.

O – Observation– After reading a passage of scripture, reflect on what you just read and what it means. What do you notice about the verses? What do you think the main message is? What verses, words or ideas jump out to you?

A – Application -think about how you can apply God’s word to your life and ask God how he wants you to apply the verse to your own life.

P – Prayer– Finish by offering an honest, heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving, petition, or intercession. Let the spirit of wisdom or the Holy Spirit guide and direct you.

The ACTS method of Praying

The ACTS method of praying is a great way to help you focus and get more out of your prayer time. It stands for:

A – Adoration– Begin by expressing your love and admiration for God.

C – Confession- Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness.

T – Thanksgiving– Thank God for all of His blessings in your life. Be specific and express your gratitude from the heart.

S – Supplication– Present any requests or petitions on your heart and ask God to work in those areas of your life.

Inspirational Books on Prayer

Praying God’s Word

Years ago, when on a quest to learn how to pray, I learned about praying God’s word when we pray.

Praying God’s word means speaking His language and His words or scripture. For me, it makes praying easier, and I can rest assured that I am praying for God’s will as I pray.

Steps to praying God’s Word (What I do)

1. For example, if I’m feeling discouraged or afraid, I find a scripture or scriptures that speak to that.
   
2. During my prayer time, I can pray the scripture or scriptures to God along with my thoughts, feelings, emotions, and petitions.
   
3. I often journal the scriptures, write them on sticky notes and commit them to my heart (memory)
   
4. Once I have committed them to my memory, the words are in me and with me forever! Pretty cool, right?

Things to pray in 2024: (A Prayer List)

Hope

We all need HOPE!

The past few years have been difficult, and many of us feel stressed out and overwhelmed. Undoubtedly many have lost hope.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Faith

Sometimes we can lose faith. We can lose faith in the future, our world, and its leaders. We can lose faith in people and in our circumstances.

We can lose faith in ourselves.

Praying for faith to be restored is something I have prayed many times over. I like to pray for FRESH FAITH! NEW FAITH! BEAUTIFUL FAITH.

For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Health

Lord bless our bodies and our minds!

-Strength our physical bodies and show us strategies to better care of ourselves.

-Show us ways we can heal and strengthen our minds.

-Heal our sickness, disease, and pain, both known and unknown, both seen and unseen.

LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me. Psalm 30:2

Medical Breakthroughs

Thank God for good medicine and smart Doctors!

-Pray for medical breakthroughs worldwide to help treat various diseases and medical conditions. BIG BREAKTHROUGHS!

-The Strength our scientists, physicians, and health workers. Bless them, anoint them, and give them new wisdom and insight.

-Bring them together in unity toward medical breakthroughs! Bring cures for cancer and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and more.

The orphan.

• That people would rise up and be moved by the spirit of adoption!
• Protection from harm, physical and emotional.
• Comfort in God’s love and provision.
• Practical and spiritual needs to be met.
• Resources to provide for their basic needs.
• A loving, supportive family, home, and community.

Related: Four things the Bible says about orphans

The widow

• Emotional healing and strength to cope with grief and loss.
• Financial provision
• Pray for guidance and wisdom
• courage and faith to persevere despite difficult times.
• Pray that she would find comfort in God’s presence and provision.
• A supportive community of family, friends, and neighbors.

Peace

Lord! Bring peace!

-Peace worldwide in places where war and conflict still exist.
-We Pray that those persecuted may find solace and safety and that war will cease in Jesus’ name!

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

Unity

Unity and understanding among people of all backgrounds and walks of life.

Help us to learn to appreciate our differences and come together as one human family united in love and compassion.

The elderly.

May the elderly be surrounded by loving friends and family. Fill their hearts with joy and thanksgiving, cover them in your love and bring them to a place of peace and comfort.

Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone. Psalm 71:9

Strength

Give us strength in times of weakness. Strength to rise in courage and might. Strength to endure. Strength to do hard things.

 Strengthen me according to your word: Psalm 119:28

Peace

Bring your peace that surpasses all understanding, oh Lord!

The world needs peace more now than ever before. Pray for peace in our communities and around the globe—for a ceasefire between warring countries, an end to violence against women and children, resolution of political disputes, and relief from oppression.

The Lord is Near! Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, with prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6

Gratitude

Thank you for our many blessings! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

-Help us to have thanksgiving in our hearts to overflowing no matter our circumstances.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Wisdom.

Open the eyes of our hearts and our minds. Give us a spirit of discernment and understanding (spiritual wisdom or Godly Wisdom)

Related: The Best Scriptures on Wisdom

Courage

 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Compassion

Fill us with compassion, understanding, and empathy toward others. Help us practice kindness and mercy and extend a helping hand to those in need.

Related: 10 Powerful Prayers of Compassion

Grace

Thank you, Lord, for your unmerited favor (your grace!) We say that your grace is more than enough. Amen.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor 12:9

Prosperity and Success

Provision. Financial stability. Fulfilling opportunities to grow, serve and give.

Related: Powerful Prayers on Prosperity and Abundance

Family

• Health. Pray for the health and well-being of each family member by name.
  
• Prayers for Protection. Pray that the Lord physically and spiritually protect each family member daily. (While they travel, at work, at school, etc)
  
• Discipline. Pray for guidance when disciplining children. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).
  
• Unity. Pray for a strong unity and bond within the family. For protection over relationships. That each family member would be quick to forgive.
  
• Mealtime Prayers. Take the time to thank God for His provision and the food on the table.
  
• Bedtime Prayers. Thank God for the day and its blessings. Ask for peaceful, restful sleep and protection over the house at night. Bedtime is a perfect time to pray for anything and everything until sleep comes.

Friends

Thank you for the gift of friendship.

Thank you for meaningful and lasting relationships, both old and new! Help us never to take our friends for granted. Help us cherish our friends for all eternity.

Help us to be loyal, faithful friends.

Children

Thank you Lord for our children! We ask that your mighty hand would keep them safe and nurtured, educated and healthy.

Protect them, guide them and give them wisdom as they grow.

Related: 31 Ways to Pray for your Children

World leaders

Heavenly Father, we ask for your guidance and wisdom over world leaders.

We pray that they will be filled with the understanding of Your will in all things and enabled by the power of Your Spirit to do what is right in Your sight.

We pray that their decisions will bring peace and prosperity to all and that any and all disputes between nations will be settled in a manner that honors You.

Give them the courage and strength to stand for what is right, even when it is unpopular or difficult.

And may they seek Your wisdom as they lead with integrity and justice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Safety and Protection

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Psalm 91:1-3

Related: Seven powerful prayers for safety and protection

The Planet

Thank you for this beautiful earth we call home.

We thank You for the beauty of nature that is all around us – from majestic mountains to sprawling oceans to lush forests.

Forgive us for taking it for granted.

We pray that we would be good stewards of Your creation and take actionable steps toward protecting our environment for generations to come.

Give us the knowledge and tools to reverse the damage already done to create a healthier, more sustainable planet.

The homeless

Father, come in your power to the homeless. Those who have no place to call home, to rest…Bring them refuge and safety. Bring them resources. Bring them hope.

Bring help. Call your people to rise to serve the homeless as salt and light. To be your hands and feet.

Forgiveness

Ah, Forgiveness!

We pray that we would have the grace to receive and extend forgiveness freely.

That we would let forgiveness cover us like a blanket.

We would be able to forgive past wounds that cannot be changed. (with or without an apology)

Help us not to be scorekeepers of rights and wrongs. Give us a clean slate every day and the ability to let go of grudges and anger.

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  Matthew 6:14

Justice and equality

Pray for Justice and equality!

-Justice and equality, that all people may be treated equally and respectfully.
-An end to discrimination, prejudice, and hatred.
-Equal rights to education, healthcare, and freedom.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

Pastors and church leaders

That they may be guided by God’s wisdom and have insight into the needs of their congregations, they would be given new and fresh leadership strategies and the courage to navigate uncharted waters.

That they would lead with love and integrity.

Humility

Humility or being humble is the quality of being modest and respectful.

It is often seen as a virtue and is the opposite of ego. Humility involves recognizing one’s insignificance compared to the greatness of God or the universe.

Praying for humility or a humble heart for ourselves, our loved ones, and our leaders is always a good idea.

This list of things to pray for will continue to grow!

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to add to the list of things to pray for in the new year!

Things to Pray for: Consider Keeping a Prayer Journal

A prayer journal is a great way to keep track of your prayers and how God is answering them. It can also help you stay focused and organized in your prayer life.

Keeping a prayer journal is the perfect way to make prayer part of your daily routine.

List different kinds of prayer journals:

A Gratitude Prayer Journal

I genuinely believe that being thankful is the most important part of prayer. A gratitude journal is dedicated to recording moments of gratitude and thankfulness.

Bottom line: An attitude of gratitude is the right attitude!

Reflection Prayer Journal

A reflection prayer journal is like a good old-fashioned diary.

A Reflection prayer journal focuses on personal reflections on daily life. These reflections can be anything and anything. A reflection journal helps us to process ongoing situations, feelings, and emotions.

Reflection journals can help grow faith and hope for the future as we can look back and see how far we’ve come in our life journey!

Prayer Request Journal

A prayer Request Journal is a place to keep track of prayers that have been prayed and their answers. Can be an ongoing list of people and circumstances to pray for, along with praise reports when prayers have been answered.

Bible Art Journaling.

Bible art journaling is a wonderful and enriching experience that invites us to explore scripture deeper and express the insights we gain in creative ways – you can let your imagination run wild!

Devotional Journal

A devotional Journal is focused on deepening your understanding of God’s word through daily devotions and bible study.

Answer Seeking Journal

We all have questions. We all struggle with doubt. This journal is a place to record your questions for God and the insights He has given in response.

This is where you can essentially wrestle with God and keep a record of it.

Spiritual Goals Journal

Much like a habit tracker, a spiritual goals journal helps to track your personal spiritual goals.

You can keep track of anything you want. Some people like to track what they’ve read in the bible when they prayed and even if they attended church or not.

Shop for Prayer Journals

Prayer and Praying Scriptures

Before I close, I wanted to include some scriptures about prayer and praying that you may find helpful.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:6-7

“Pray without ceasing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:17

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” Matthew 21:22

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”1 John 5:14

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24

“…Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:23

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13

Inspiring Books on Prayer:

• Dangerous Prayers by Craig Groeschel
• Understanding the Purpose and Power of Prayer by JD Jackson
• The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson
• Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore
• The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word by Joyce Meyer
• How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People  By Pete Greig 

Conclusion: Things to pray for in The New Year! 2024

No matter what comes our way in 2024—trials or triumphs (or a little bit of both) I hope this list of things to pray for in 2024 will help you pray powerful prayers in 2023!

What do you think? Do you believe in the power of prayer? What’s on top of your prayer list this year? Leave me a note in the comments below.

May you experience His peace, protection, and blessings in abundance now and always!

Amen!

XO, Christine

PS. If you would like to get to know me better, check out: 100 Random Things About Me 🙂