New Year's resolutions are good but fragile, that is, easily broken. New Year's prayers are better; they ascend to the throne of God and set answering wheels in motion. As we come to the beginning of another year, we would do well to make the following prayer requests our own:
Lord Jesus, I rededicate myself afresh to You today. I want You to take my life this coming year and use it for Your glory.
I pray that You will keep me from sin, from anything that will bring dishonor to Your Name.
Keep me teachable by the Holy Spirit. I want to move forward for You. Don't let me settle in a rut.
May my motto this year be, "He must increase; I must decrease." The glory must all be Yours. Help me not to touch it.
Teach me to make every decision a matter of prayer. I dread the thought of leaning on my own understanding. "O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jer. 10:23).
May I die to the world and even to the approval or blame of loved ones or friends. Give me a single, pure desire to do the things that please Your heart.
Keep me from gossip and criticism of others. Rather, help me to speak what is edifying and profitable.
Lead me to needy souls. May I become a friend of sinners, as You are. Give me tears of compassion for the perishing.
Lord Jesus, keep me from becoming cold, bitter, or cynical in spite of anything that may happen to me in the Christian life.
Guide me in my stewardship of money. Help me to be a good steward of everything You have entrusted to me.
Help me to remember moment by moment that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. May this tremendous truth influence all my behavior.
And, Lord Jesus, I pray that this may be the year of Your return. I long to see Your face and to fall at Your feet in worship. During the coming year, may the blessed hope stay fresh in my heart, disengaging me from anything that would hold me here and keeping me on the tiptoes of expectancy. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
William MacDonald (Jan 7 1917 - Dec 25 2007)
8 comments:
During the coming year, may the blessed hope stay fresh in my heart, disengaging me from anything that would hold me here and keeping me on the tiptoes of expectancy. "Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
What a beautiful prayer! It is very easy to lose the joyful expectancy of His return. May it be on the forefront of my heart and mind.
I'm from Phoenix, AZ.
yeah, that's my favorite part of the prayer too. along with "Lord Jesus, keep me from becoming cold, bitter, or cynical in spite of anything that may happen to me in the Christian life."
oh so you're from Phoenix. again, thanks for gracing my blog with your presence. your comments are an encouragement. :)
If you don't mind me asking, why is that portion of the prayer a favorite?
I noticed your blog was linked to a resource blog for your students.
So if you do not feel comfortable answering a possibly vulnerable question, I understand.
well, i think i'm cynical in my outlook by nature (probably developed from past experience) and i can be cold and detached sometimes when i relate to people (my students will testify to that so there's nothing to hide). that's why that portion hit home when i read it.
If I may be permitted to question further... "probably developed from past experience".
Will you share?
ah now i see what you're getting at. yeah that bit is rather private. maybe someday if i'm comfortable enough then i'll share. i trust you understand?
Fair enough. :)
Many times, people share their mind, but the heart is more difficult to pen. However, like a pearl in the center of an oyster, once the heart is open rare treasure is found.
As the Proverbs state, though, "Guard your heart for out of it flow the issues of life". Personal feelings or past issues that forge the character you have today can be lessons utilized by others and respected by those close, but not shared with everyone.
I can certainly understand and even appreciate your guardedness.
eloquently said. :) thanks for understanding.
so tell me, do you keep a blog too?
Post a Comment