Praying for new beginnings reminds us that God is in control and has nothing but good planned for our future.
A few months ago, our family navigated a new beginning that felt all-consuming. Our 11-year-old daughter was adjusting to her first year of middle school, and the transition was tough.
Overtaken by stress hormones, our daughter suddenly seemed like a different person, and our whole family struggled under the stress.
New beginnings can be exciting, but they can also be threaded with uncertainty. We don’t know what the future holds, and this can feel frightening.
At these times, it’s important to remind ourselves that nothing surprises God. He goes before us, and he will carry us through times of transition.
Whether you’re starting a new job, settling into the New Year, or simply hoping to wipe the slate clean and start over in some area of your life, let’s talk about how to pray for new beginnings.
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Prayer for New Beginnings Bible Verses
The Bible offers valuable insights into the potential of new beginnings. God loves to bring beauty from ashes and work in our lives to bless our obedience.
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts helps us pray biblical prayers for new beginnings. Let’s look at six Bible verses about new beginnings.
- Lamentations 3:22-24, NIV: “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. I say to myself, ‘The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’”
- Jeremiah 29:11, NIV: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’”
- Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”
- Philippians 3:13-14, NIV: “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
- Ephesians 4:22-24, NIV: You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Prayers for New Beginnings
How do we pray for new beginnings?
First, it’s helpful to begin by thanking God for going before us. This helps us remember that we can trust him with the unseen parts of our story. We can also be honest about our fears, doubts, and uncertainties.
Next, we ask God to align our hearts with his heart so that his divine purpose is accomplished through us. Last, claiming God’s promises over our lives adds power to our prayers and aligns our hearts with his heart.
Here’s an example of a prayer for new beginnings, followed by a list of specific types of new beginning prayers:
“Lord God, thank you for going before me into this new beginning. I trust you to guide my footsteps and lead me along the right path even when I feel uncertain.
Help me surrender to your guidance and stay in step with your Holy Spirit. Empower me to glorify your name and carry your love into this new beginning. I want this fresh start to bring glory and honor to you as you use me as your vessel. Amen.”
Short Prayer for New Beginnings
Maybe your child is starting a new school year, your husband is about to head to his first day at a new job, or you are preparing to volunteer in a new community after a recent move.
Do you need a short prayer for this new beginning? Use this simple, yet powerful short prayer to thank God for the new beginnings that await you!
“Lord, thank you for this new beginning. At times, this opportunity feels exciting, but at other times, it feels frightening. Help me use this fresh start as an opportunity to trust you and become more dependent upon your presence with me. Amen.”
Daily Prayer for New Beginnings
New beginnings are exciting—until they aren’t!
In these times, it’s helpful to fall back on a daily prayer to help navigate the transition.
Here’s an example of a daily prayer for new beginnings that you can pray each morning.
“Lord God, thank you for understanding everything that I am going through as I adjust to this new beginning. Help me to trust that I will settle into this new beginning.
Please allow me to relax, lean into you, and recognize that this will not feel new and overwhelming forever. Open my eyes and my heart as I watch for opportunities to love and serve others.
Remind me to take my eyes off of myself as I join you in your kingdom work. Amen.”
Prayer for New Beginnings in the New Year
The New Year is a time of new beginnings for us all. The opportunity to start over, set new goals, and change our daily rhythms is a gift from God.
Here is a prayer to pray at the beginning of the New Year:
“Father, thank you for this fresh start. Help me learn from the difficulties of the past year and move into this New Year with hope.
Just as you promised the people of Israel hope and a future, you offer this promise to me. I claim your hope today. Guide me into this new year.
Show me the rhythms you want me to shift, and show me what you want me to know about this upcoming year. I commit to walking with you daily. Amen.”
Prayer for New Beginnings at Work
New jobs always require adjustments. The learning curve is often steep. During this adjustment period, the following prayer can help you begin well:
“Lord, thank you for my job. As I step into this new beginning, I ask you to help me extend grace to myself. I know it will take time to adjust and learn the ropes.
I pray for a determined spirit, and I ask that I’ll be found in favor with my supervisors and coworkers. Help me carry your light into my workplace and see this place as my mission field.
I pray that the people I meet will encounter your love through me and be drawn into a saving relationship with Jesus. Amen.”
Prayer for New Beginnings for a New School Year
Whether you are heading off to college, preparing to send your five-year-old to kindergarten, or preparing to shift into the rhythms of the fall school schedule, pray this prayer at the start of a new school year:
“Lord Jesus, thank you for going before us. We ask you to help us make this transition into the new school year with ease.
Help us extend grace to our bodies as we adjust to the new stressors and expectations set before us. Remind us that you are with us and that you will equip us to fulfill your calling on our lives.
Give us sound minds and determined attitudes as we prepare to learn and grow. Amen.”
Prayer for New Beginnings with Family Changes
Perhaps your family is preparing to welcome a new baby into your home, or maybe your last child will soon move away from home and leave you with an empty nest.
Maybe you recently said goodbye to a member of your immediate family, or you might be adjusting to life after a divorce.
Regardless of the reason for your family’s new beginning, here is a prayer to help you trust God with this change:
“Father, thank you for going with our family into this new season. We trust you to guide us, provide for us, and help us adjust to these changes.
Impart your grace so that we will treat each other with your love, kindness, mercy, and compassion. We realize that our whole family will be adjusting, and we ask you to help us to be kind to one another.
Remind us that we will settle into this new season, and it will soon become our new normal. Amen.”
Are you looking for some tools and tips to boost your prayer life? If so, be sure to visit our Prayer Resources Library where you’ll find everything you need to become a powerful prayer warrior!
When we pray for new beginnings, we can rest in the peace of knowing that God goes with us. His plans for us are good, and he will help us.
Our daughter eventually adjusted to her new school, and we are now seeing the fruit of the prayers we prayed for months ago.
In the same way, you can trust that God hears your prayers. He goes before you into this new beginning, and his plans for you are good.
Here are some more prayers for new beginnings:
