A Prayer for the New Year

The new year, like a new born child, is placed in our hands as the old year passes away. The days and weeks to come are God’s gift; they carry God’s blessing. As a blessing we welcome them. Our hope for the year ending is that all that was good in it remain with us an all that was harmful be left behind.

A Prayer for the New Year

The new year, like a new born child, is placed in our hands as the old year passes away. The days and weeks to come are God’s gift; they carry God’s blessing. As a blessing we welcome them. Our hope for the year ending is that all that was good in it remain with us an all that was harmful be left behind.

What shall I ask for the coming year

What shall my watchword be

What should thou do for me, dear Lord

What can I do for thee?

Lord, I would ask for a holy year

Spent in thy perfect will

Help me to walk in thy very steps

Help me to please thee still.

Lord, I would ask for a trustful year

Give me thy faith divine

Taking my full inheritance

Making thy fulness mine!

Lord, I would ask for a year of love

O let me love thee best

Give me the love that faileth not

Beneath the hardest test.

Lord, I would ask for a year of prayer

Teach me to walk with thee

Breathe in my heart the Spirit’s prayer

Pray thou thy prayer in me!

Lord, I would ask for the dying world

Stretch forth thy mighty hand

Thy truth proclaim, thy power display

This year in every land.

Lord, I would ask for a year of joy

Thy peace, thy joy divine

Springing undimmed through all the days

Be thy days of shade or shine.

Lord, I ask for a year of hope

Looking for thee to come

And hastening on that year of years

That brings us home to you.