A New Year's Prayer

I was never a fan of printed prayers. Some sectors of the Christian faith use them religiously, but I always viewed prayer as a more personal and spontaneous act. However, shortly before becoming ill in 2008, in my personal devotional time I began using a book of prayers from the Puritans--saints from the 1600's and 1700's. Someone had given the book to me. (I can't remember who it was. If it was you, THANK YOU.) The prayers of these saints were meaningful to me at the time and since then I have used them and other printed prayer resources to stimulate my own prayer life. No doubt I will be sharing some of these prayers with you throughout the year.

As a side note, some of you in this blog community have typed out your prayers in the Comment section. Dozens of times this past year Joanna and/or I have prayed these prayers with you. Your words gave us new expression for what our hearts wanted to say.

I know that in prayer it is better to have heart without words than words without heart, but sometimes it is a great benefit to find a printed prayer that puts words to our hearts--a prayer that gives us the ability to say what our hearts were longing to say but our minds hadn't found the words to express. Such is the prayer that follows. It is one of the Puritan prayers.

O Love beyond compare,
Thou art good when thou givest,
when thou takest away,
when the sun shines upon me,
when night gathers over me.

Thou hast loved me before the foundation of the world, and in love didst redeem my soul;
Thou dost love me still, in spite of my hard heart, ingratitude, distrust.
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 hoist sail and draw up anchor,
With thee as the blessed Pilot of my future as of my past.

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 the 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.
Amen.

Hoist the sail! Draw up the anchor! The Pilot will lead us into the uncharted waters.

Together with you for the new year--whatever it may hold,
John