As we enter 2015, let us do so humbly before God. Consider these prayers for the new year from three well-known theologians.
Henry Alford
You, O Lord, in the beginning laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They shall perish, but you shall endure; they all shall wax old as does a garment, and as clothing shall you change them, and they shall be changed. But you are the same, and your years shall not fail.
O God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, we praise you that you have permitted us to begin another year. You alone know which of us will be spared to complete it. However this may be with any of us, keep us in your fear, sustain us by your grace, do not take your Holy Spirit from us. Whether we live, or whether we die, may we be yours.
And as your blessed Son obeyed your law for us, that He might become the righteous Head of our nature, and enable us to obey you:
So grant, O Lord, that we, having this hope in Him, may purify ourselves even as He is pure; that this year, and all our lives, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Him. And when our appointed time is finished, take us from here to your kingdom of glory, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
John Newton
Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal,
And make thy glory known;
Now let us all thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone!
Help us to venture near thy throne,
And plead a Saviour?s name;
For all that we can call our own,
Is vanity and shame.
From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;
And let the year we now begin,
Begin and end with thee.
Send down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never lov?d before.
And when before thee we appear,
In our eternal home,
May growing numbers worship here,
And praise thee in our room.
Charles Spurgeon
We will be glad and rejoice in you.
We will open the gates of the year to the sweet strains of the harp of joy.
What heavens are laid up in Jesus!
What rivers of infinite bliss have their source, and every drop of their fullness in Him!
Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, you are the present portion of your people,
favor us this year with such a sense of your preciousness
that from its first to its last day, we may be glad and rejoice in you.
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These prayers are taken from 300 Christmas Quotations and Prayers and from 300 Quotations for Preachers, with Slides. Even more can be found in the five-volume 1,500 Quotations for Preachers, with Slides collection. All quotations are searchable by author, theme, and Scripture reference, making it easy to find exactly what you?re looking for. And professionally design slides let you effortlessly share them with others.
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