Listener prayers for the New Year

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Today is Thursday, December 30th. Good morning! This is The World and Everything in It from listener-supported WORLD Radio. I’m Mary Reichard.

NICK EICHER, HOST: And I’m Nick Eicher. Time now for your prayers for the New Year. Today, selections from the book of Daniel, Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and from the book of Psalms.

JACKSON: Hello, my name is Caroline Jackson. I am eight years old. I'm going to read Daniel 2:20-21. Daniel answered and said, blessed be the name of God forever and ever to whom along wisdom in might. He changes times and seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.

VARNER: Adrian Varner reading Colossians 3:12-17. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another, if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace, and be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another, with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

YOST: I'm Dan Yost in Stillwater, Oklahoma. And I really appreciated world's recent story about the pilgrims in their use of the Psalter for singing the Psalms. I'm going to read a portion of Psalm 33 from the Psalter that my church sings from every week. But you can follow along in any translation. This ought to really set the stage for 2022 and tumultuous times.

The Lord by his word has created the heavens, and he by his breath made the stars come to be. The depths of the ocean, he heaps up together and puts in a storehouse the waves of the sea. So let all the earth and its people revere him. And in the Lord's presence with awe let them stand. He spoke, it was done and continues to stand fast. It all was accomplished when he gave command. The Lord brings to nothing the plans of the nations; he frustrates their counsel and makes their schemes fail. But all that the Lord in His heart has intended, the plans he has made, will forever prevail. The nation the Lord has embraced is most blessed, where he is acknowledged to be God alone. This people he claims his inherited portion, the ones he has chosen, and calls as his own. The King is not saved by the strength of his army, the soldier as well should not trust his own might. The strength of a horse does not make rescue certain. A horse is a false hope for winning the fight. The Lord we await is our help and protection. Our heart is glad, trusting in His holy name. Oh, Lord, let your covenant love be upon us as we hold to you and the hope that we claim. Happy 2022.

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