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Facing 2021 in faith
Farquhar’s
Midweek Message – Wednesday 6 January 2021
May we shelter under this rainbow of hope in 2021, putting
our hope not in a New Year but in the One who is Lord of the Years and who will
be our Guide, Guard and Gracious God in the year ahead.
Yours in Christ Jesus
Farquhar
~ ~ ~
A Prayer For a New Year
(Note: A few months ago
Tim’s 20 year-old son Nick collapsed suddenly and died – you can read more
about this tragedy on his website here. In light of that, it’s clear this prayer isn’t just
nice sounding words but a powerful declaration of trust in a loving God who
gives and takes away).
My Good and Gracious Father,
You have brought me safely through another year. This was a year in which I saw and experienced so much of your goodness. You were good when you gave, and you were good when you took away; you were good when the sun shined upon me and you were good when the night fell around me. You were only, ever good.
In your Word you give the sure
promise that you have loved me since before the foundation of the world. That
love was always with me and held me fast through another year. You led me in
each step I took. You led me around the wilderness to the places of cool rest
and quiet. You led me through dark valleys to the joy beyond. You were there
even in times when I wandered and went astray. There was nowhere I could go
that was beyond your love, beyond your reach, beyond your care and compassion.
You are so good and I am so grateful.
Father, I trust and I believe that your love and your kindness will be my theme in the year ahead. I entrust the future to you and I do it with joy and with confidence. I do it with sure hope that you already know each step I will take and that you will be with me to direct each one of them.
If you have appointed trials and
tribulation, I know that you will guide and comfort me through them all. If I
have to pass through persecution or times of deep temptation, I can have full
confidence that you will never leave me nor forsake me. If this is to be the
year you call me home, I can receive that with joy, knowing that I will rejoice
to be in your presence at last. If this is the year that Christ returns—Please,
may it be the year that Christ returns!—, then I will join with all Creation in
rejoicing and praising your name.
But if you grant me length of
days, and if you grant me health and safety through the year ahead, it is my
prayer and my deep desire that I would live them all in your service and to
your glory. Please grant me a grace that guides, sustains and sanctifies me
every day and every hour, that in this new year I would not live a moment apart
from you. Let me rely on your Spirit to supply every word I need to speak, to
direct my every step, to prosper all I do, to build up my faith, and to grant
me the heartfelt desire to display your glory, to advance your kingdom, and to
declare your gospel.
Whatever may come in the year ahead, I pray that you would glorify yourself through me. In times of joy or sadness, in times of security or trial, in times of peace or temptation, make yourself known and make yourself great through me.
I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
by Tim Challies
(www.challies.com)
This prayer
was based in part on the two new year’s prayers in The Valley of Vision.
