Every year. Every single year. Christmas comes and goes, December ends, New Year’s Day arrives, and I think to myself: How can it be [fill in the year] already?
Maybe it’s just me. But, seriously: 2026? How is that possible?
Oh, well, as happens every year, the Charles Wesley lines come to mind:
And are we yet alive,
And see each other’s face?
Glory and praise to Jesus give
For His redeeming grace!
So, as I greet this new year, I do so in wonder, gratitude, and prayer—with a prayer, in fact, that opens my recently published book, 100 Prayers for Writers: Creative Fuel for Inspired Work (2025, Christian Writers Institute), which I hope everyone reading this has purchased (if not, you have my permission to open a new browser window and buy it right now!):
Alpha and Omega, First and Last, I pray [for my writing and living in this new year]:
be my first thought every morning,
and my last thought every night.
Claim my first allegiance,
my last full measure of devotion.
Take first place in my heart,
and rule over every last affection.
Make me first to serve,
last to seek credit.
Let me please you first,
and all others last, amen.
As I write this, I am even praying for you, my readers and writer friends, for this to be true for you in 2026. Amen and amen.
Amen.
I have your book, and I also gave some a gifts for Christmas.
As long as we still have God’s breath in our lungs, we are still on mission for God. May He continue to bless you to bless others. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. (double entendre intended)
I KNOWWWW. Wasn’t 2025 the big year in all the scifi novels? And now we’re in 2026?? How is this possible? Here’s really what I want to know: Where is my flying car? And this’ll really blow your mind—George Jetson turns four this year. That’s right. 2062 will be here before you know it.
Thank you for this! I added your book to my Kindle Library. And I join in this prayer for all of us writers who wish to be “first to serve, last to seek credit.” Amen!
This was absolute perfect timing. I received your book for Christmas, told everyone how excited I was to start reading it, accidentally stuffed it under a pillow, and rediscovered it yesterday. I just read that very first prayer less than ten minutes ago and then checked my email to find this. Thanks for your book, Bob. I know it will bless me and so many others as well.
Thanks for this prayer! Our prayers change with the ebb and flow of life, but our devotion to the Lord should never waiver!
Thank you Steve. To be reminded that our relationship with God comes before everything else. Including writing, editing, and publishing. Above sales and being number 1, and getting large email lists. It’s about what God wants for us to do this year. It is so easy to get distracted even when the books are about Him It’s spending time with you first and last and in between. June forrest Stanley .
I bought your beautiful book and keep it by my computer. Thank you.
Amen and Amen!!!
Amen and Amen!!! It’s always a pleasure to serve with our gifts and being!
God bless you real good
Thanks
Joy
Thanks and Amen. I wish the same from https://geradornicks.com.br family