Friday, January 02, 2009

A New Year's Prayer

I regularly use Wesley's Covenant Prayer when I read scripture and pray. You might find it helpful as well. The themes found in this prayer run so counter-cultural they are a great reminder for the follower of Jesus of our high calling as the new year begins and throughout the year. Here it is:

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.
(as used in the Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church, 1936).

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