Starting Anew

As we move toward the new year, I’m mindful of the opportunity it gives us to examine our lives. A new year, just like a new week or a new day, gives us a chance to start anew.

The church year gives us several opportunities to do this, notably Ash Wednesday and the four Sundays each year on which we renew our baptismal vows (the next of which will be January 15). Many Christians around the world include the new year as an opportunity to recommit oneself to God as well.

In British Methodist circles, it is common to use a modified form of John Wesley’s “Renewal of believer’s covenant with God” near the beginning of each year to assist Christians in the deepening of their faith.

The most well-known feature of this service is the “covenant prayer,” which Wesley, influenced by devotional writers from the UK and Germany, put together. The prayer expresses the desire of the believer to live a life completely committed to God, completely dependent on God, and completely open to God.

Below is the text of the prayer. I hope and pray that it might be helpful to each of us as we move into the New Year.

I am no longer my own, but thine.

Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,

exalted for thee or brought low for thee.

Let me be full, let me be empty.

Let me have all things, let me have nothing.

I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.

And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

thou art mine, and I am thine.

So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,

let it be ratified in heaven.

Amen.

Peace,

Chris