A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

Length of days does not profit me
Except the days are passed in Thy presence, in Thy service to Thy glory.

Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides, sustains
Sanctifies, aids every hour,
That I might not be one moment apart from Thee,
But may rely on thy Spirit
To supply every thought,
Speak every word,
Direct every step,
Prosper every work,
Build up every mote of faith,
And give me a desire
To show forth Thy praise,
Testify Thy love,
Advance Thy kingdom.

I launch my bark on the unknown waters of this year,
With Thee, O Father, as my harbour,
Thee O Son, at my helm,
Thee O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
My lamp burning,
My ear open to thy calls,
My heart full of love, my soul free.

Give me Thy grace to sanctify me,
Thy comforts to cheer me,
Thy wisdom to teach,
Thy right hand to guide,
Thy counsel to instruct,
Thy law to judge,
Thy presence to stabilise.

May Thy fear be my awe,
Thy triumphs my joy.

From: Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

O Source of all good,
What shall I render to you for the gift of gifts,
your own dear Son?

Herein is wonder of wonders:
he came below to raise me above,
was born like me that I might become like him.

Herein is love;
when I cannot rise to him
he draws near on wings of grace,
to raise me to himself.

Herein is power;
when Deity and humanity were infinitely apart,
he united them in indissoluble unity,
the uncreate and the created.

Herein is wisdom;
when I was undone, with no will to return to him,
and no intellect to devise recovery,
he came, God-incarnate, to save me to the uttermost,
as man to die my death,
to shed satisfying blood on my behalf,
to work out a perfect righteousness for me!

O God, take me in spirit to the watchful shepherd,
and enlarge my mind!

Let me hear good tidings of great joy,
and hearing, believe, rejoice, praise, adore,
my conscience bathed in an ocean of repose,
my eyes uplifted to a reconciled Father!

Place me with ox, donkey, camel, goat,
to look with them upon my Redeemer's face,
and in him account myself delivered from sin!

Let me with Simeon clasp the newborn child to my heart,
embrace him with undying faith,
exulting that he is mine and I am his!

In him you have given me so much that heaven can give no more.

—from Valley of Vision

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee
in ceaseless flow.
When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.
I bless thee for the soul thou hast created,
for adorning it, sanctifying it,
though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou hast given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.
I love thee above the powers of language to express,
for what thou art to thy creatures.
Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

From: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers

PSALM 82 — REVISED

Just Rulers Are the Foundation of a Stable Society

The psalmist says that God stands ready to judge those who rule on his behalf. God hates injustice, and these God- appointed judges have perverted what is right.

These judges are guilty of injustice and showing partiality to the wicked (1-2). God is righteous and He expects judges to judge righteously and not show favouritism (2 Chron 19:7). Brethren, the fall of any society is swift when those who are to uphold the law and pervert it for their own ends.

God calls human judges and rulers to do the job that God has given them. They must show true justice and preserve the rights of the poor and helpless against the powerful and ungodly (82:3-4).

The psalmist says that with their rulings and actions the rulers reveal their lack of knowledge of what is right (5). They are wilfully ignorant of the truth, and stumble in spiritual darkness. Without the truth they lack discernment in their decisions and true justice is subverted. Because of their decisions, the “foundations of the earth are shaken” (82:5). These are the foundations of society. Whether it is Israel or a Gentile nation, God has prescribed order and justice as the foundation of a stable nation.

God then pronounces His judgement upon these perverters of justice. God gave them great authority over the people as rulers and judges (6). Yet, no matter how high and mighty they are, they will die just like all men (7).

The psalmist’s words 82:8 echo our thoughts today when we see and hear injustice and wickedness. It is a call for God to set things right. It is a call for the return of Christ, who will judge the ungodly and establish everlasting justice for His people (Jn 5:22).