Your Nightly Prayer: Evening Prayers for Christians

Releasing Last Year's Burdens

As a new year begins, many of us carry lingering weight from the year behind us—regret, disappointment, grief, fear, or exhaustion. It can feel like life piles on more and more, making it hard to move forward without dragging the past along with us. But Scripture gently calls us to a different posture: release, surrender, and trust. God invites us to stop replaying yesterday’s troubles and instead place them into His hands. We don’t have to carry what God never intended us to hold. The Lord promises not only to sustain us but to do new things—making a way through wilderness places and bringing streams to dry and weary parts of life. A new year doesn’t mean everything is easy, but it does mean we can begin again—lighter—because we are held by a God who cares. TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER Dear Father, Tonight, I come to You with everything I’ve carried from last year—the burdens, the stress, the pain, the regrets, and the disappointments. You tell me to cast my anxiety on You because You care for me, and I want to believe that truth with my whole heart. Help me release what I’ve been holding too tightly. Strengthen me to trust You enough to let go and rest in Your care. Remind me that I don’t have to replay yesterday in my mind, because You are already present in tomorrow. Open my heart to believe that You are making things new in my life. Free my heart and mind from the weight of what was, and help me receive Your will and Your peace for what is ahead. In Jesus’ name,Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON What am I still carrying?Is there a burden—grief, regret, fear, disappointment—that I’ve been holding onto because it makes me feel in control? What would it look like to surrender it to God tonight? How does my body release stress?God created us with emotions and physical responses. What healthy outlet helps you let go—walking, journaling, worship music, stretching, cooking, praying aloud? Invite God into that release. A surrender practice for the new yearWrite down the burdens you want to release to the Lord. Pray over them one by one. Then tear up the paper, burn it safely, or place it in a Bible or journal as a symbol of surrender—reminding yourself that what you’ve handed to God no longer belongs on your shoulders. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

New Mercies for a New Year

When your heart is broken, the way the world celebrates a “new year” can feel cruel. Everyone talks about fresh starts and clean slates, while you’re simply trying to survive another 365 days carrying the weight of loss. That’s why Lamentations 3:22–23 is such a lifeline. Jeremiah wrote these words in the middle of devastation—not after everything was fixed. And that’s the point: God’s new mercies don’t erase what happened. They don’t rush your healing or demand excitement for the future. Instead, God meets you with enough mercy for today—strength for one more step, peace for one more moment, breath for one more morning. You don’t need the grace for the whole year tonight. You just need the mercy God has waiting for you when you wake. TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22–23 YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER Heavenly Father,This new year doesn’t feel new to me. I’m still carrying pain from what I’ve lost, and I don’t feel ready for fresh starts or big plans. But tonight, I’m asking You to help me trust in Your new mercies. My circumstances may not have changed, but You are faithful. Help me wake up tomorrow and receive just enough mercy for that day. I don’t need strength for all of 2026—I just need what You have for me tomorrow. Thank You that Your faithfulness doesn’t depend on my feelings, my strength, or my ability to move forward. Thank You that even when I can’t see the purpose in my pain, You still have plans for me. Help me take one more day, one more step, trusting that Your mercies will meet me when I wake.In Jesus’ name,Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON One Mercy from TodayLook back over the last 24 hours and name one mercy God gave you—strength to get through the day, comfort at the right moment, a text from a friend, or simply the ability to keep going. That mercy was personal and intentional. Tomorrow Is Not TodayYou don’t have to solve the whole year tonight. You don’t have to plan for every hard date or unknown moment. Trust that when tomorrow comes, God’s mercies will be waiting and sufficient. His Faithfulness Holds YouRemember a time God carried you when you couldn’t feel Him. You may not have had answers, but you had endurance. That same faithfulness will hold you through this year—one day at a time. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Starting the Year in Stillness

How comfortable are you with being still—sitting in silence and waiting for God to speak? For many of us, stillness feels uncomfortable because our world runs on constant noise and motion. And if you struggle with anxiety, slowing down can feel even harder. Fear whispers that you can’t afford to pause, that silence is unsafe, and that you must stay busy to stay in control. But Psalm 46:10 offers a better invitation: be still, because God is God. When we remember that He’s in control, we can loosen our grip on striving. We don’t have to fear being alone with our thoughts, because we are never alone. In Christ, God meets us in the quiet—and He is enough for what lies ahead. TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE: “Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER Dear God,Learning to be still in a noisy world can feel scary and uncomfortable. When I’m tempted to fill every moment with noise and busyness, remind me that I have permission to pause, breathe, and rest in You. Quiet the fears that creep in when I slow down, and help me trust that You are in control—even when I’m not doing anything. Teach me to practice stillness in Your presence and to listen attentively for Your voice. I love You, praise You, and thank You, Jesus.Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON Practice daily stillness. Set a timer for 5–10 minutes and sit quietly before the Lord. Pray honestly, then listen. Ask God to help you be okay with silence and attentive to His voice. Schedule space for quiet. Add a “Silence Minute” (or longer) to your calendar each week. Treat it like an appointment with God—time to slow down, breathe, and rest in His presence. Notice what feeds your noise. Take one week to reduce input—social media, radio, or news—and journal what changes in your heart and mind. Does silence feel easier? What do you learn about what your soul truly needs? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Beginning Again with Grace

A few years ago, I played my first “real” round of golf—and quickly learned what a mulligan was. It’s the do-over shot you get when you mess up. No penalty. No shame. Just another chance. That’s exactly what God’s grace gives us, only far greater. In Christ, we aren’t patched up or repaired—we are made completely new. And God’s grace doesn’t just apply to the moment of salvation; it’s available every day. Each time we repent, grace invites us to begin again. As you reflect on this past year, you may remember moments you’re proud of—and moments you wish you could undo. But grace says you don’t have to stay stuck in yesterday. God’s mercy is not limited, and His forgiveness is never exhausted. Through Jesus, the old is gone, and the new is here. TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”— 2 Corinthians 5:17 YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER Father,Thank You for Your grace. I don’t know where I would be without it. As I look back over this past year, I see both the choices I’m thankful for and the moments I wish I could erase. I confess the ways I’ve fallen short, and I receive Your forgiveness tonight. As I step into a new year, help me walk in confidence as the new creation You’ve made me to be. Let me release the weight of my past mistakes, knowing You have made all things new. Remind me that Your grace doesn’t run out—and that with You, I can begin again, even today. Let this year be the greatest revelation of Your grace I have ever experienced.In Jesus’ name,Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON Grace is not only what brings you to Christ—it’s what sustains you every day. You are not a byproduct of your strength; you are a testimony of His grace. Grace cannot be earned—only received. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Finding Hope in God's Faithfulness

When life gets hard, it’s easy to lose sight of God’s faithfulness. Our problems can feel so loud and so close that they take up all the space in our minds—and before we know it, we’re focused more on the storm than the Savior. But God has not changed. His character is still steady, merciful, and true. Even when we can’t feel Him, He remains faithful. One simple way to strengthen our trust is to intentionally remember what He has already done. Try writing down one way God showed His faithfulness each day—something small or something significant. Then, when worry rises, you’ll have proof in front of you that God has been present all along. TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE “Great is your faithfulness.”— Lamentations 3:23 (NIV) YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER Dear God,In the chaos of this world, it’s easy to lose sight of You—Your majesty, Your power, and Your faithfulness. When my problems feel bigger than my peace, remind me that You are still the same God who has carried me before. Teach me not to fixate on fear, but to focus on Your character. In every season—whether I’m on a mountaintop or in a valley—help me recognize Your presence and trust that You will never fail. I love You, I praise You, and I thank You for being faithful even when life feels uncertain.In Jesus’ name,Amen. THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON Where have you struggled to trust God lately?Be honest with Him—through prayer, journaling, or quiet reflection. Start a daily “faithfulness list.”Each morning or evening, write one way God provided, protected, comforted, or guided you. Run to God in hardship, not away from Him.Bring Him the problem first—and ask Him to help you notice His faithfulness in the middle of it. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.