Another Year is Dawning

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. I Timothy 1:17

Tomorrow is the first of January. Another year has passed. As we look to 2013, what are your hopes and dreams for the year? What is your prayer? How will you endeavor, with the Holy Spirit, to become more like Jesus this year?

The prolific hymn writer Frances Havergal wrote this beautiful poem in 1874 for her New Year's greeting cards. It so beautifully sums up what I hope 2013 will bring: feeling God's presence, trusting, being His witness, giving Him all the glory no matter what He sends my way.

I pray that God will be at work in me, equipping me to do His will through Jesus.

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

I pray that God will give me the perseverance to work hard, so that I can help others.

"In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35

I pray that I will be a watchful waiter, ready for my Master to come for me.

Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Luke 12:36

I pray that the gospel will progress around the world; that many people will come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 2:14

And that through it all, God will be praised.

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. Psalm 30:11-12

I look forward to another year of being blessed by God's mercy, faithfulness and grace.

The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23-24

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

I rejoice in the anticipation of another year in His presence - the gladness of His shining face. Whether I am in the light, the dark, the sea, heaven or Sheol, He will be with me.

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,”
even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You. Psalm 139:7-12

This year, I want to trust MORE in the Lord, and rely much less on myself.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:10

But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14

I want to rest quietly in trusting the One who gave His life for me.

For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:8

I want 2013 to be marked by my faithful service to my Lord, of showing the world His love. I want to be His witness!

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:7-8

I want to walk in a manner worthy of my calling.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

I want to live as an example through my actions, choices, words and behavior - that others will see what it is to believe.

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. I Timothy 4:12

On earth or in heaven, I want this to be another year for my Savior, the One who rescued me from darkness and adopted me into light. May each day bring me closer to Him, and for that, may He receive all the glory.

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. II Peter 3:17-18

Another Year is Dawning
Words by Frances Havergal

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.