Entering a new year can be an emotional rollercoaster of fear, hope, and expectation mixed with regrets, sorrow, gratitude, and joyfulness. The culture around us tells us a new year is a chance to be a new person, to make new goals or recommit to old ones, and to reprioritize ourselves. But above all the emotional and cultural chatter, Christians ought to use this time to renew their confidence in God’s strength, wisdom, provision, and love. It is a time to think about ways to invigorate our devotion to Him.
The Puritans were about joyful devotion to God, especially in prayer. Fast forward a few hundred years, and our lives feel too fast-paced for proper devotion. We don’t seem to have enough time to warm hearts and affections by the fire of God’s Word and draw near to Him in the quiet solitude of prayer. But we can learn from the Puritans through the prayers they recorded.
In 1975, Arthur Bennet first published a collection of Puritan prayers, meditations, and spiritual exercises in a book entitled “The Valley of Vision.” In it, there are prayers for every occasion, not least the beginning of a new year. I want to leave you with a few quotes I think will help jumpstart your year of devotion to God.
“Thou art good when thou givest, when thou takest away, when the sun shines upon me, when night gathers over me.”
“Thy goodness has been with me during another year, leading me through a twisting wilderness, in retreat helping me to advance, when beaten back making sure headway. Thy goodness will be with me in the year ahead.”
“I bless thee that thou has veiled my eyes to the waters ahead. If thou has appointed storms of tribulation, thou wilt be with me in them; if I have to pass through tempests of persecution and temptation, I shall not drown, if I am to die, I shall see thy face sooner; if a painful end is to be my lot, grant me grace that my faith fail not; if I am to be cast aside from the service I love, I can make no stipulation; only glorify thyself in me whether in comfort or trial, as a chosen vessel meet always for thy use.”
“Give me grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour, that I may not be one moment apart from thee, but may rely on thy Spirit to supply every thought, speak in every word, direct every step, prosper every work, build up every mote of faith, and give me a desire to show forth thy praise, testify thy love, advance thy kingdom.”
“I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year, with thee, O Father, as my harbour, thee, O Son, at my helm, thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.”
“Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom towards those without, and kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially my fellow Christians.”
I hope these prayers help realign you with God’s will for your life this year by realigning yourself with His Word.
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