Prayer for the New Year

The Flight of Time and God’s Enduring Mercy

O Almighty God, who art from everlasting to everlasting and unchangeable in Thy gracious dealings with the children of men, our Maker, Preserver, and most bountiful Benefactor, we bring Thee blessing and worship and praise on this, the first morning of the year. Thou hast during the past year upheld us with Thine everlasting arms, crowning our lives with innumerable blessings, granting us peace and health and daily bread, protecting our homes and our bodies and souls from every evil, and continuing unto us the possession of Thy holy Word. O Lord, we are not worthy of the least of all the mercies and all the truth which Thou hast shown unto Thy servants; and if Thou shouldst now enter into judgment with us, we could not stand. But Thou art merciful and gracious, and art pleased to blot out our transgressions from Thy remembrance for Thy name’s sake. We praise Thee for the gift of Thy dear Son Jesus Christ, our only Redeemer, and take refuge in the merits of Him, who taketh away the sins of the world.

We give Thee thanks also for sparing us from year to year, and for having given us further time for amendment through trials. Mercifully grant that with this new year we may begin a new life. Deliver us, not only from the guilt of sin, but also from its power and dominion. Govern us by Thy gracious Spirit, and quicken us in the way of righteousness, that we may set out afresh in our Christian course. Give us a due sense of the rapid flight of time, the certainty of death, and the Judgment to come. Help us to bear in mind that we are strangers and pilgrims on earth, and direct our desires to the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. May we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Give us grace to watch and pray, that, as becometh Christians, we may praise Thee with holiness of living and be always ready for Thy coming.

Heavenly Father, take us and the whole human family under the wings of Thy gracious protection for this new year of our earthly pilgrimage. Let us experience the continuance and renewal of all Thy wonted mercies. Grant peace to our land, health to our bodies, and joy to our souls. Pour down the choicest blessings on all men, according to their various wants, and teach them to use the world without abusing it, seeing that the fashion of it passeth away. Prepare us for all the duties, trials, and afflictions of the new year. Comfort us in every distress, and enable us to work with all our might while it is day, before the night cometh when no man can work. And should this year be our last on earth, grant that we may depart hence with triumphant faith and enter into the mansions of eternal rest and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.Amen.