My anticipation of great blessing comes from Your inspired influence, God. I have read the stories. I know what You can do. I have seen Your power and Your majesty weave loose threads of my own life into a tapestry worthy of a palace. Amazing is too small a word to capture all the magnificence of Your love’s influence. I am but dust and ashes, yet You have swept me into a pile blowing Your Spirit to life within the mess. How my expectations have been raised by the truth of who You are. I want to know You deeper, serve You better, and love You exclusively. Do not let my life dishonor Your truth, Lord. Hem me in and ransack my soul’s contents. Remove whatever doesn’t belong in a child called by Your Name. Vanities are no longer tempting to pursue. Such goals are not befitting the holy motivations of Your Spirit. Though I fall infinitely short of all You destined, I thank You for the grace that keeps growing me in the right direction. My heart trusts in You more than me. Let me delight in nothing except Your Name and renown. Even if the blessings seem scarce and far between, let my anticipation of Your intervention remain grounded in hope this year. Under the blessed assurance of the Word in Psalm 63:1-5 and the authority of Christ, I pray.

O God, my God! How I search for You! How I thirst for You in this parched and weary land where there is no water. How I long to find You! How I wish I could go into Your sanctuary to see Your strength and glory, for Your love and kindness are better to me than life itself. How I praise You! I will bless You as long as I live, lifting up my hands to You in prayer. At last I shall be fully satisfied; I will praise You with great joy.
Psalm 63:1-5, NLT