A new year brings with it new beginnings. Christ is born to save His people from their sins, and it is His grace that will carry everyone through the new year. “And the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’” (Is 9:6). He carries everything on His shoulders, just as He carried the Cross on His shoulders, for the people He loves.
To start the year off with prayer, one might consider praying the Surrender Novena. This novena encourages the soul to give everything over to Our Lord, to cast upon Him all one’s cares, worries, hopes, dreams. If the soul gives the care of these things to the Sacred Heart and truly trust that He will act and take care of everything, this gives Our Lord room to do so. It gives Him leave to see to everything. Jesus will not force Himself on anyone, but He desires greatly that souls allow Him into their lives in such a way that they rely solely on Him, and receive everything as coming from His Merciful Heart, or permitted by Him.
“Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything” (from The Surrender Novena).
