My New Year's Prayer

Dear Lord,
I'm not making any promises or resolutions. I know from my past performance that this would only be setting myself up for failure, discouragement, and ultimately confession to You that I had no intention of keeping them in the first place.

I know I've changed in the past few months --- not a whole lot, but enough to know that change is possible. "Probable" is another whole issue. Thank you, Lord, for my brother and what he has brought about in my own life. Thank you for the example of my other brother, sister, and family members and how they have sacrificed with joy to take care of Tony. Thank you for making me look deeper into my own soul because of all of this.

Lord, if I can ask for one thing this year, it's this: Keep changing me. Little by little. Day by day.

Change me into someone who can discern what's really important from the trivial irritations that would ruin a whole day.

Change me into someone who can see a need in one person's life and fill it. Not the whole world -- just one person.

Change me into someone who lives Your Word instead of someone who just knows it.

Change me in such a way that maybe 365 days from now, I'll look just a little bit more like You.

If You can change me in just these things, then this coming year will be considered one of true miracles! With You, all things are possible, aren't they? Let's go for it!