Welcoming A New Year

 

The year ahead is waiting for us like an open door

To the places and the times where we have never been before

With the gladness and the sorrow the excitement and the fear

And everything that is in between that oft makes up a year

 

It will best be lived with patience and a thankful humble heart

And a willingness to step up and to do what is our part

It will best give peace and comfort as to God we freely render

The things we want to hold to but are needing to surrender

 

I pray we keep our minds on Jesus in this coming year

How freely He left Heaven and endured the cross down here

How He freely gave His life and He did not despise the shame

How He lived God’s ways and principles and asks we do the same

 

I pray that we would understand the power that is ours

In access to the power of the One who made the stars

As we ask for strength from Jesus who through us can do all things

And He lifts us for His glory, to rise on eagle’s wings

 

The year ahead is waiting and it is up to us to choose

To be vessels of our selfishness or vessels God can use

To praise Him in our victories and to trust Him in our fears

To allow His hands to shape us now for our eternal years

 

The year ahead will best be paced by a slow and steady climb

With wisdom to remember to live one day at a time

With a heart to seize the fullness of the moments we are in

With the knowledge that a moment past can not be bought again

 

I pray that we would realize that we never are alone

That God’s Spirit is present with us and that He is on His throne

And in ways we will never fully know we can touch those we are near

If He did not have a purpose for us we would not be here

 

I pray we would know what we should hold and what we should let go

For the wisdom to know when we should say yes and when we should say no

For eyes to behold all that He sends to give our hearts a lift

For lives to praise each moment, the Giver of all gifts

 

"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.”

                                                                                              Psalm 86:11,12 (ESV)