In December 2017 I was on tour with the show “The Sound Of Music” and performing in Dublin, Ireland over Christmas and New Year. As New Year’s Eve approached I found myself thinking over the year that had just passed and started to wonder what the months ahead would bring.
I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions but I did find myself thinking about what might be beneficial things to pray for when heading into a new year. I soon began writing a poem that I hope is easily relatable and that can be an encouragement when we look to the unknown future.
May fear and worry never dominate us and may we live instead in the life affirming fellowship with God made possible by the work of Jesus Christ. The only Man ever to enter Heaven through His own good works is able to keep what we have committed to Him until that Day. I pray this poem can inspire us all to draw ever closer to our Saviour, to trust our future to Him and redeem the time until His return!
Another year has reached it's end, the time is nearly through.
Reflecting on the months gone by I lift my hands to You
For when I view life's pages and the stories of my days
I see a book that's filled with grace and have to sing Your praise!
Remembering the times of joy when laughter came with ease,
It lifts my spirits still when I recall such days as these.
Of course there were the darker spells I couldn't understand
But even through the tears I was upheld by Your right hand.
Thank you for Your faithfulness, thank You for Your love.
Thank You for the blessings You have poured out from above.
Thank You for my family, for friendships old and new.
Thank you for Your Word that keeps me on the path that's true.
Thank You for sustaining me when trials seemed too great,
Thank You for Your wisdom when you told my soul to "wait."
I'm grateful that You listen and You share in all my cares.
Thank You for Your guidance and for answering my prayers.
You have been my constant Help, my Shelter and my Shield;
The heartache You have brought me through, the illnesses You've healed.
How I sing Your praises Lord, my Light and my Salvation
Whether it be joyful song or quiet contemplation.
And so I stand before You as I look towards the new,
However many days I have I dedicate to You.
Write about Your goodness in the pages of my story,
Let others look upon my life and give You all the glory.
I pray for all Your people, that You’d set ablaze our hearts,
Surround us with Your mercy as another New Year starts.
Fill us with a hunger Lord to read Your Word each day,
May we know the fullness of Your love in every way.
Help us to redeem the time and may our days be spent
With tender hearts and spirits always willing to repent.
May we seek to serve with joy our sisters and our brothers,
Thinking less about ourselves and more on loving others.
I pray for Your protection Lord against the fiery darts,
Rid us of the idols on the altar of our hearts.
Align our soul’s desires with the plans You have in store;
Remind us who our First Love is, the One whom we adore!
May our vision be refreshed, our thoughts revitalised.
Help us really contemplate our value in Your eyes.
Let us not be wearied by life’s burdens or details,
Help us pray “Your will be done.” The prayer that never fails!
We give to You our hopes and dreams and place them in Your care,
We put them in Your mighty hands and know they’re safest there.
Help us speak of You and may we never be ashamed.
We pray a special prayer for those who suffer in Your name.
Grant us health and happiness and let our faith inspire
Those who’ve yet to know You and fulfil their heart’s desire.
Help us guide the lost to You and draw them to Your side
For this could be the year when You come back to claim Your Bride!
And so we look ahead with faith, with hope our spirits burn.
May we bring You glory as we wait for Your return!
Fill us with the Holy Spirit’s power once again.
All this we now commit to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Ephesians 5:15-16
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?”
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 27:14
“Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Psalm 32:7
“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”
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