Prayer for the New Year

I cannot say a better prayer for 2014 than this poetic prayer of more than a century ago by A.B. Simpson.

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

A.B. Simpson

 What shall I ask for the coming year?

What shall my watchword be?

What would’st Thou do for me, dear Lord?

What can I do for Thee?

 

Lord, I would ask for a holy year,

Spent in Thy perfect will;

Help me to walk in Thy very steps—

Help me to please Thee still.

 

Lord, I would ask for a trustful year;

Humble, and yet so high;

Help to sink at Thy blessed feet,

And on Thy bosom lie.

 

Lord, I would ask for a year of faith;

Give me thy faith divine,

Taking my full inheritance,

Making Thy fullness mine,

 

Lord, I would ask for a year of love,

That I may love Thee best;

Give me the love that faileth not,

Under the hardest test.

 

Lord, I would ask for a busy year,

Filled up with service true;

Doing with all Thy Spirit’s might

All that I find to do.

 

Lord, I would ask for a year of prayer—

Teach me to walk with Thee;

Breathe in my heart Thy Spirit’s breath;

Pray Thou Thy prayer in me.

 

Lord, I would ask for a dying world;

Stretch forth Thy mighty hand;

Scatter forth Thy Word—Thy power display

This year in every land.

 

Lord, I would ask for a year of joy,

Thy peace, Thy joy divine,

Springing undimmed through all the day,

Whether of shade or shine.

 

Lord, I would ask for a year of hope,

Looking for Thee to come,

And hastening on that year of years,

That brings us Christ and Home.

This is my prayer for 2014.  May it be yours as well.  Have a blessed New Year!