Blessings for The New Year

We look at the world in horror, wondering how much worse things can become. Many are asking themselves if 2019 will be the year in which World War III eventually breaks out. Intercessors know very well that several times the world has been on the very brink of nuclear war in recent years. Heads of State have been poised time and again with warheads at the ready, everything in place, yet have found themselves mysteriously unable to proceed. Truly, “more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

Will 2019 be the year of the Rapture? It could well be – who knows? Even Jesus Himself does not know when His Father will send Him to go and fetch His Bride home. I recently read the following words spoken in prophecy. In them Jesus gives guidance in a nutshell on how to make sure that we are ready for His coming.

“Put your trust in Me. Confess your sins, forgive your enemies, and stay repentant. Scatter works of mercy all around you, waste no time coming to the aid of your neighbour, whoever they might be. And most of all, pray for Mercy.” – Jesus

My prayer as we stand at the beginning of the New Year

This beautiful prayer is, in fact, a description of a Bride who has oil in her lamp and to spare; such a one is ready for the coming of her Heavenly Bridegroom. Knowing His heart, she will be reaching out to souls, realising that many are becoming deeply disillusioned at the horrendous changes in our ailing world. The Bride is very conscious that the fields are indeed ripe unto harvest.

The Lord says, “With Me you can always start afresh.”

There is something exciting about a new beginning. Nothing has yet happened in 2019. However, we may well wonder what kind of year we will be looking back on in twelve months’ time from now – that is, if we are still here. There is every indication that world events are rapidly spiralling out of control as evil accelerates in every sphere of life. Unless Jesus comes soon, we shudder to think what kind of world our children, grandchildren or great grandchildren will have to grow up in.

We can make a difference!

As we stand at the threshold of yet another new year, now is the time to ask the Lord what else He would have us to do for Him. Some of us may be awestruck at what we could find ourselves doing. Let’s simply trust Jesus in childlike faith, throwing ourselves wholeheartedly into what He gives us to do. Whatever we may be called upon to do in 2019, we can all be sure of one thing, His Grace is sufficient for us… and in Him we are strong and will do exploits!

One of my happiest memories as I was growing up was the annual Covenant Service in which we renewed our Covenant with God at New Year in our local church. I still pray this Covenant prayer from time to time, and particularly at New Year:

My Covenant With God

I am no longer my own, but Yours.

Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will.

Put me to doing, put me to suffering.

Let me be employed for You, or laid aside for You,

Exalted for You, or brought low for You.

Let me be full, let me be empty,

Let me have all things, let me have nothing:

I freely and whole-heartedly yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are mine, and I am Yours. So be it. And the Covenant now made on Earth, let it be ratified in Heaven.

[This beautiful prayer of full surrender is the Covenant Prayer of the Methodist Church, renewed annually at their New Year Covenant Service. I was raised Methodist but am now Pentecostal]

Note from So Greatly Loved

I wish you a Blessed New Year. 2019 may well be the year in which Jesus will come for His Bride – for those who are living for Him. Let us all make sure we are READY!

PLEASE NOTE: