In the times I kept up with my blog, I frequently posted Wesley’s Covenant Prayer on New Year’s Day. I’m going to do this again, but a bit differently. I hope you will be challenged by this, or at least that you will give it some thought.
Many churches pray this Covenant Prayer on the first Sunday of the new year. I love that tradition. I often wonder, do I, or do others really pray this prayer or do they just say the words, not giving them another thought? I’m going to add my thoughts today.
I am no longer my own, but Thine.
When I made a decision to follow Christ, I gave him my whole life, so I thought. Sometimes it’s really hard to do. Did I ever wonder what that meant? Not at that time I didn’t. Did you?
Put me to what Thou wilt, rank me with whom Thou wilt.
Many times in life I was the “low man on the totem pole.” And other times, I was held in high regard. And, of course, there’s always that middle ground. How did I handle each situation? Did I handle my position with grace? Did others see Christ in me? I didn’t really like the times I was in the spotlight, it’s nice to be acknowledged once in a while, but living as if I were in a goldfish bowl wasn’t my cup of tea. It was challenging at times.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
I would guess that we would all like to “do” instead of suffer. We like to be useful. But, are we willing to do menial tasks? What are we willing to do for the sake of the gospel? Work with AIDS patients? Work where no others would willingly work? Are we/am I willing to do what it takes? There was a time that I would have said, “yes!” loud and strong. I like to think I would react the same way now but my voice isn’t as loud or as strong anymore.
Let me be employed for Thee, or laid aside for Thee.
No matter where a person works, they can be the hands of Jesus. They can show His love to everyone that they interact with each and every day. Do others see that in me or do they see my impatience? When I was unemployed, were my actions those of Christ? Did I still have His joy in my heart?
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
Can you live without all the comforts of home that you now enjoy? Can you live without electricity? Or without clean drinking water? Without air conditioning in the summer? Without a washer and dryer? Most of the world lives just like that. When I returned from Ghana, I was so grateful for hot and cold running water. When a storm knocks out the electricity, so what? It’s not the end of the world. I have learned not to stress about it. I live a simple lifestyle. In years past, things were different, although I never did have an extravagant life. My friends in Ghana think I do. But, here in the US, no, I don’t. Things are a lot different here than in the villages of the Lawra District of Ghana. I have learned to be content no matter where I live.
I freely and heartily yield all things to Thy pleasure and disposal.
This is easier to do if you know in your heart of hearts that God can use you, your belongings, your cash, for a bigger purpose than what you can see with your own two eyes. Again, using Ghana as an example, I didn’t have to think twice about getting rid of 98% of my worldly possessions. God had a plan for my life in another part of the world. I had no idea how long I would be gone. And, why just let stuff sit in storage somewhere for years. Do I regret not keeping more? Sometimes I think it would have been nice to have a certain item or piece of furniture. But, again, what would I do with it? Where would I put it? In the end, I know that I did the right thing.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine and I am Thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in Heaven. Amen.
Lord, I give you my all today, my heart, my mind, my strength (or lack there of,) my will, my possessions, my life. It’s all yours, Lord. Amen.
Have a blessed year!
