Celebrating the New Year

Christmas and Easter are undoubtedly the two most transformative events for Christians and even for humankind as a whole: the coming of Jesus Christ into the world and his death and resurrection.  Both remind us of God’s unconditional and unlimited love for us all.

New Year’s Day, on the other hand simply marks the beginning of another year on our calendar.  In the Old Testament God’s people did celebrate the beginning of what they saw as a new year.  For them it was a day of joy and thanksgiving for God’s goodness and faithfulness.  In Numbers 29:1 we hear that “it is a day for you to sound the trumpets”.  So, joyously celebrating on New Year’s Eve and blowing your party horn…well, don’t let anyone tell you that’s not biblical. 

The Bible doesn’t speak of making resolutions for the new year even though that tradition can be traced back to the Babylonians over three thousand years ago.  However, the Bible repeatedly speaks about prayers of thanksgiving, taking time to reflect on God's faithfulness, and setting goals for the future that align with biblical teachings.

Does this mean that we should just ignore the beginning of another year or treat it as if it is just another ordinary day?  I think not.  Perhaps it is a time to pause and look back over the last year and thank God for God’s blessings.  But, we should also take time at the beginning of the new year to look forward and to commit our lives into God’s hands.  Only God knows what this new year will bring, but with Christ we can face the future with confidence because through the Holy Spirit he will be walking right along with us.

So, to help guide you through your New Year’s celebration and resolution making I would like to share with you a prayer from the writings of the Reverend Billy Graham…

“Our Father and our God, at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future.

We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead - but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us strength and the wisdom we need to meet its challenges.  Help us to humbly put our hands into Your hand, and to trust You and to seek Your will for our lives.

In the midst of our daily preoccupations and heartaches, help us to turn to You for the stability and comfort we need,  In the midst of life’s temptations and the pull of our stubborn self-will, help us not to lose our way but to have the courage to do what is right in Your sight, regardless of the cost.

Help us to pray for our nation during these difficult times.  We especially pray for Your protection on all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank You for their commitment to defend our freedoms, even at the cost of their own lives.

Help us to look back and thank You for Your goodness to us - far beyond what we have deserved.  May we never presume on Your past goodness or forget Your mercies to us, but may they instead lead us to repentance and to a new commitment to make You the foundation and center of our lives.  Help us to look to You with expectancy, faith, and guidance so that we can point others to You as the hope of the world.”

And, finally this prayer authored by Frances Ridley Havergal that she wrote as an inscription on her New Year’s cards that she gifted to her friends and family to celebrate the new year in 1874:

(*Note - Samuel S. Wesley composed the tune Aurelia in 1864 and the words of Frances’ prayer were subsequently set to Samuel’s already existing tune.  This beautiful hymn is #567 in our hymnals and is entitled Another Year is Dawning.*)

Another year is dawning:

Dear Father let it be,

in working or in waiting,

another year with Thee;

another year of progress,

another year of praise,

another year of proving

Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies,

of faithfulness and grace;

another year of gladness

in the shining of Thy face;

another year of leaning

Upon Thy loving breast;

another year of trusting,

of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service,

of witness for Thy love;

another year of training

for holier work above.

Another year is dawning;

Dear Father, let it be,

on earth or else in heaven,

another year for Thee.

May God bless you and yours in this coming year. 

Happy New Year to all!

Pastor Paul