Introduction: No doubt the New Year will bring New Challenges, New Opportunities, and New Breakthroughs. What are you praying? How should we pray? How should we prepare? Are we supposed to exercise faith?

1. Pray Now. (James 4:2,3)

“… yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

Our Lord invites us to pray and trust Him. Are you? What are you praying? Who are you praying for? What should you be praying?

2. Plan Now. (James 4:13-15)

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

The New Year (2023) may hold some challenges that we need to plan for beforehand (even though we do not know what they are). It pays to pray beforehand and it pays to plan beforehand; i.e. financially, relationally, etc.

3. Patience Now. (James 5:7)

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

Pass the patience please! Now!! Interruptions. Changes. Disappointments. Setbacks….etc. Patience needed!

4. Prepare Now. (James 5:8,9)

“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.”

At the end of the day, as well as the beginning of the day, prepare for Jesus Christ to return for His Church. Are you watching? Waiting? Worshipping? Witnessing?